ORGANIZATIONAL HANDBOOK
Including Corpora, the By-Laws, Corporate Policies, and the Articles of Incorporation
Revised August 17, 2015
© Copyright 2014 - The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Printed copies of this document can be ordered from
SCA Marketplace, PO Box 360789, Milpitas, CA 95036-0789
Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. may photocopy this work in whole or in part for SCA use provided copyright credit is given and no changes are
made to the text. The contents of this document will be posted at http://www.sca.org and further reproduction on other Internet sites is expressly forbidden.
August 17, 2015 Revision
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM ................................................................................. 6
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
THE CORPORA OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC. ......................................................................................... 9
I.
GENERAL ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Precedence of Law ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Role of Corpora ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Role of the Board............................................................................................................................................................. 10
A.
B.
C.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
D.
Rules ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Intervention .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Publication of changes.................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Relationship with branches ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
Right of appeal ............................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Impeachment ................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Communications with the Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc. ....................................................................................................... 11
Operations outside the USA ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Membership Requirements ............................................................................................................................................. 12
1.
2.
3.
General ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Officers ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Awards ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
E.
F.
Unofficial Entities ............................................................................................................................................................ 12
Sanctions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
II. EVENTS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
A. Society Events Defined .................................................................................................................................................... 13
B. Requirements for Participants at Society Events............................................................................................................. 13
C. Business Requiring Prior Announcement ........................................................................................................................ 13
D. Individuals in Charge of Events ....................................................................................................................................... 13
E. Duty to Enforce Requirements ........................................................................................................................................ 13
F. Policy on Religion ............................................................................................................................................................ 14
G. Waterbearing .................................................................................................................................................................. 14
III. BRANCHES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14
A. General ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14
B. Borders ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15
C. Branch Designations ....................................................................................................................................................... 15
D. Establishment and Advancement.................................................................................................................................... 18
E. Reservations to the Board ............................................................................................................................................... 19
IV. ROYALTY ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19
A. Selection .......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
B. Qualifications .................................................................................................................................................................. 19
C. Duties .............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
D. Privileges ......................................................................................................................................................................... 20
E. Limitations....................................................................................................................................................................... 20
F. Kingdom and Principality Law ......................................................................................................................................... 21
G. The Crown ....................................................................................................................................................................... 21
H. The Coronet ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
V. TERRITORIAL BARONS AND BARONESSES ............................................................................................................................. 24
A. Appointment and Removal ............................................................................................................................................. 24
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B.
Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
VI. SOCIETY OFFICERS ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
A. General ............................................................................................................................................................................ 24
B. Society Seneschal ............................................................................................................................................................ 26
C. Laurel Sovereign of Arms and The College of Arms ......................................................................................................... 26
1.
2.
3.
Laurel Sovereign of Arms ................................................................................................................................................................ 26
College of Arms .............................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Heraldic Administration.................................................................................................................................................................. 26
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Marshal of the Society .................................................................................................................................................... 26
Minister of Arts and Sciences .......................................................................................................................................... 27
Chronicler of the Society.................................................................................................................................................. 27
Society Chancellor of the Exchequer ............................................................................................................................... 27
Webminister .................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Reservations to the Board ............................................................................................................................................... 27
VII. KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY, AND LOCAL OFFICERS.................................................................................................................. 27
A. General ............................................................................................................................................................................ 27
B. The Seneschal .................................................................................................................................................................. 28
C. The Principal Herald ........................................................................................................................................................ 28
D. The Earl Marshal ............................................................................................................................................................. 28
E. The Minister of Arts and Sciences ................................................................................................................................... 28
F. The Chancellor of the Exchequer ..................................................................................................................................... 29
G. The Chronicler ................................................................................................................................................................. 29
H. Duties of Other Officers ................................................................................................................................................... 29
I.
Appointment to office ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
J. Warranting / Rosters ...................................................................................................................................................... 29
K. Ending a term of office .................................................................................................................................................... 29
L. Suspension of an officer .................................................................................................................................................. 30
VIII. PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES .......................................................................................................................................... 30
A. Patents of Arms ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
1.
2.
3.
4.
B.
C.
D.
E.
General Requirements.................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Order of Precedence Within the Peerage....................................................................................................................................... 31
Departure from the Peerage .......................................................................................................................................................... 31
Patent Orders ................................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Other Awards .................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Membership Requirements for Receiving Awards .......................................................................................................... 34
Titles ................................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Reservations to the Board ............................................................................................................................................... 35
1.
2.
3.
Degradation from the Peerage ....................................................................................................................................................... 35
Revocation of Awards and Grants of Arms ..................................................................................................................................... 35
Granting and creation of new titles ................................................................................................................................................ 35
IX. SOCIETY COMBAT ................................................................................................................................................................. 36
A. Society Combat-Related Activities................................................................................................................................... 36
B. The Rules of the Lists ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
C. Royal Lists........................................................................................................................................................................ 37
X. GRIEVANCES AND SANCTIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 37
A. General ............................................................................................................................................................................ 37
B. Grievances ....................................................................................................................................................................... 38
1.
2.
C.
Principles ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 38
Procedures ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Sanctions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 39
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Royal Sanctions............................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Administrative Sanctions ................................................................................................................................................................ 39
Expulsion from the SCA .................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Reservations to the Board of Directors .......................................................................................................................................... 39
THE BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC. ........................................................................................ 45
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
NAME.................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
OFFICES................................................................................................................................................................................. 45
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES ................................................................................................................................................. 45
DEDICATION OF ASSETS ........................................................................................................................................................ 45
MEMBERS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 45
A. Statutory Members ......................................................................................................................................................... 45
B.
Nonstatutory Members ................................................................................................................................................... 45
C.
General Conditions and Privileges Of Membership ......................................................................................................... 45
1.
2.
3.
4.
Access to Membership ................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Privileges of Members .................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Revocation/Denial of Membership ................................................................................................................................................ 46
Reservations to the Board .............................................................................................................................................................. 46
VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS .......................................................................................................................................................... 46
A. Powers ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
B.
Number of Directors ........................................................................................................................................................ 46
C.
Qualifications of Directors ............................................................................................................................................... 46
D. Restriction on Interested Directors.................................................................................................................................. 47
E.
Election and Term ........................................................................................................................................................... 47
1.
2.
3.
F.
Probationary Period ....................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Term of Service ............................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Resignation ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Vacancies and Removal .................................................................................................................................................. 48
1.
2.
3.
Dismissal of a Director .................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Filling Vacancies.............................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Leave of Absence ............................................................................................................................................................................ 48
G. Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone .................................................................................................................... 48
H. Regular Quarterly Meetings ............................................................................................................................................ 48
I.
Special Meetings ............................................................................................................................................................. 48
J.
Action at a Meeting; Quorum and Required Vote........................................................................................................... 49
K.
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board .................................................................................................................... 49
L.
Committees ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49
M. Reimbursement of Expenses ........................................................................................................................................... 49
VII. ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................................................................. 49
A. Officers ............................................................................................................................................................................ 49
B.
Corporate Office .............................................................................................................................................................. 49
C.
Compensation ................................................................................................................................................................. 50
VIII. CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND FUNDS ........................................................................................................................................ 50
A. Execution of Corporate Instruments ............................................................................................................................... 50
B.
Checks, Drafts, Etc. .......................................................................................................................................................... 50
C.
Gifts ................................................................................................................................................................................. 50
IX. INDEMNIFICATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 50
X. BOOKS AND RECORDS .......................................................................................................................................................... 50
XI. FISCAL YEAR .......................................................................................................................................................................... 51
XII. AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS ................................................................................................................................................... 51
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XIII. DEFINITION OF STRUCTURE .................................................................................................................................................. 51
A. The Corpora ..................................................................................................................................................................... 51
B.
Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc. .................................................................................................................................. 51
XIV. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................................. 51
THE CORPORATE POLICIES OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC. .................................................................... 52
I. MEMBERSHIP TYPES .................................................................................................................................................................. 52
A. Statutory Members .............................................................................................................................................................. 52
B. Non-Statutory Members ...................................................................................................................................................... 52
II. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP ...................................................................................................... 53
A. Access to Membership ......................................................................................................................................................... 53
B. Privileges of Members .......................................................................................................................................................... 53
C. Eligibility for Office ............................................................................................................................................................... 53
D. Revocation/Denial of Membership ...................................................................................................................................... 53
1. Grounds ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 54
2. Board Consideration............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
3. Notification .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
4. Appeal .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 55
E. Notification ........................................................................................................................................................................... 55
F. Reservation by the Board ..................................................................................................................................................... 55
III. ADMINISTRATION .................................................................................................................................................................... 55
A. President .............................................................................................................................................................................. 55
B. Vice President for Operations............................................................................................................................................... 55
C. Vice President for Corporate Operations.............................................................................................................................. 55
D. Secretary .............................................................................................................................................................................. 56
E. Treasurer .............................................................................................................................................................................. 56
F. Other Offices ......................................................................................................................................................................... 56
IV. WAIVERS – GENERAL ............................................................................................................................................................... 56
V. WAIVERS - COMBAT .................................................................................................................................................................. 56
A. Waivers for SCA Combat-Related Activities ......................................................................................................................... 56
B. Medical Authorization for Minors: ....................................................................................................................................... 57
VI. WAIVERS - PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................................................................... 57
VII. POLICY ON FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REDRESS ........................................................................................................... 58
VIII. POLICY ON ALCOHOL ............................................................................................................................................................. 58
IX. POLICY ON FIRST AID AT EVENTS OR SCA ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................... 58
X. POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 58
A. Electronic Publication of SCA Documents............................................................................................................................. 58
B. Participation of SCA Officials in Electronic Communications Media .................................................................................... 59
C. Electronic Communications to and from SCA Officers .......................................................................................................... 59
XI. POLICY ON COINAGE AND CURRENCY ...................................................................................................................................... 59
XII. POLICY ON SERVICE MARKS .................................................................................................................................................... 59
XIII. POLICY ON ACCESSIBILITY TO SOCIETY FUNCTIONS ............................................................................................................... 59
XIV. POLICY ON LAND USE / REAL ESTATE ..................................................................................................................................... 59
XV. TRANSLATION OF CORPORATE DOCUMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 60
XVI. AUTHORITY TO RETAIN LEGAL COUNSEL ............................................................................................................................... 60
XVII. AMENDMENT TO CORPORATE POLICIES............................................................................................................................... 60
THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC. ....................................................... 61
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A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
TO THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM
The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Society is a 501(c)3 Educational Not-for-Profit
organization devoted to the study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Most of its activities take place in
the context of a social structure adapted from the forms of the European Middle Ages, which allows
participants to take a first-hand look at various aspects of the life, culture and technology of the times under
study.
As a living history group, the Society provides an environment in which members can recreate various
aspects of the culture and technology of the period, as well as doing more traditional historical research.
We sponsor events such as tournaments and feasts where members dress in clothing styles worn in the
Middle Ages and Renaissance, and participate in activities based on the civil and martial skills of the
period. These activities recreate aspects of the life and culture of the landed nobility in Europe prior to 1600
CE. The dress, pastimes, and above all the chivalric ideals of the period serve to unify our events and
activities.
For Society members, most of the world, and all of the centuries prior to the 17th, can serve as a source for
personal research. However, the further you go from the core of Medieval and Renaissance Europe, the
less the environment we offer will resemble what someone of your time and country would find natural or
homelike. For example, you can be an Asian or African guest at a European court, but you cannot expect
others to share your special interests - like any long-term visitor in a foreign land, you are the one who will
have to adapt to the customs you find around you. Since members have free choice of what areas they will
explore, it follows that Society branches cannot decide to specialize in a specific time and place, since that
would make it hard for members there to pursue their own interests in other times and places.
The Society has active branches in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. This
“Known World” is divided into Kingdoms. Each Kingdom has a King and Queen selected by tournament
combat, in which each entrant seeks the Crown both for him or herself and for a chosen consort. Some of
the Kingdoms include Principalities ruled by Princes and Princesses also chosen by combat. These
regional organizations are responsible for the smaller branches based in individual towns, cities or
counties.
The SCA was incorporated in the United States in 1968, but counts its years from the first tournament held
on May 1st, 1966. The corporation maintains a central membership registry; publishes a quarterly
magazine, Tournaments Illuminated; publishes a monograph series, The Compleat Anachronist; and
provides mailing lists for the monthly regional newsletters published by the Kingdoms for all subscribing
members. It also sets overall standards for safety and organizational structure, within which each Kingdom
works as an independent unit.
The documents in this book set forth the workings of the SCA, Inc. and of the Society. Except as otherwise
noted, the rules of the modern corporation (the By-Laws and the Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc.) apply
only to the US and other areas not separately incorporated, while the document named Corpora governs
all the Kingdoms of the Society, wherever they exist.
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August 17, 2015 Revision
GLOSSARY
In this volume, the following terms are used only with the meanings given here:
•
Society: The entirety of the Society for Creative Anachronism (a worldwide group of affiliated
organizations).
•
SCA, Inc. or SCA: The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., California nonprofit (or not-for-profit)
corporation
•
Board: The Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc.
•
Governing documents: The Organizational Handbook, which contains The Introduction, Corpora, The
Articles of Incorporation of the SCA, Inc., the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc., the Corporate Policies of the
SCA, Inc., and any amendments and appendices.
•
By-Laws: The By-Laws of the SCA, Inc.
•
Corpora: The policies governing historical re-creation within the Society, and those policies applicable
to the entire Society.
•
Subscribing member: A Sustaining or International member of the SCA, Inc. or its approved
equivalent in an affiliated organization.
•
Society Member: Membership in the Society is defined in the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc., or in the
approved organizational documents of any corporation affiliated with the SCA, Inc.
•
SCA, Inc. Waiver Card: A card which indicates that a properly executed waiver is on file at the
corporate office. This card may also contain membership information.
•
Armigerous award: An award that can convey Arms by Award, Grant, or Patent.
•
Consort: The member for whom the combatant fights in a Royal Lists.
•
Coronet: The Sovereign and Consort of a principality, acting together.
•
Court of Chivalry / Court of Inquiry: A panel, defined according to kingdom law, convened to
investigate issues and possibly recommend action to the appropriate Society authority.
•
Crown: The Sovereign and Consort of a kingdom, acting together.
•
Officer: A Society member serving in an appointed office as defined in Corpora, or as an appointed
deputy in such an office, or in another office as may be defined by Kingdom Law, at any level of the
Society, or in the role of organizer of a Society event (commonly referred to as “Autocrat” or “Steward”),
or as a Territorial Baron or Baroness, or as Crown or Coronet or heir to a Crown or Coronet.
•
Peerage: Collectively, the members of the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, the Order of the
Pelican and the Order of Defense are referred to as the Peerage. A member of any of these Orders is a
Peer.
•
Period: The era used by the Society as the base for its re-creation activities. The Society is based on
th
the life and culture of the landed nobility of pre-17 Century Western Europe, focusing on the Middle
Ages and the Renaissance.
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August 17, 2015 Revision
•
Realm: A kingdom (including any principalities), or a principality.
•
Royal Lists: Properly constituted armored combat tournament to determine the successors to current
royalty. They are known as “Crown Lists” for kingdoms and “Coronet Lists” for principalities.
•
Royal heirs: The victor in the Royal Lists and the victor’s consort for the period between the victory and
the Coronation (kingdom) or Investiture (principality).
•
Royal Peer: An individual who has reigned as King or Queen, or as Prince or Princess of a principality,
is referred to as a Royal Peer.
•
Royalty: The persons who hold the offices of Sovereign or Consort of a kingdom or principality. The
heirs to those positions are also considered royal, but Corpora uses the terms “royalty” and “reigning
royalty” interchangeably, and only to refer to Sovereigns and Consorts.
•
Sovereign and Consort: The victor in the Royal Lists and the victor’s consort, respectively, after their
Coronation or Investiture.
•
Subject: Any person who physically resides within the borders of a realm for more than half the year.
Those who do not maintain a residence meeting this definition may be considered subjects of the realm
where they participate most frequently if they obtain written acknowledgment from the royalty of that
realm. Those who participate in Society activities primarily in a realm other than the one where they
reside may be considered subjects of that realm if they obtain written permission and acknowledgment
from the royalty of both realms. Decisions of the Coronet in such matters depend upon the approval of
the Crown.
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THE CORPORA
OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.
I.
GENERAL
A.
Precedence of Law
1.
The approved English language version of any Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
document is the official version. In case of conflict between the English language version and a
translation into another language, the English language version governs.
2.
Despite the use of the word “law” to describe the operating documents of its regional
branches, the Society recognizes the absolute precedence of law issued by civil authorities over
any of its internal rules. The SCA, Inc. as a corporate person, along with all of its members as
citizens, must obey the law of whatever jurisdictions apply to them in exactly the same fashion as all
other corporations or citizens in those jurisdictions.
3.
Within the Society, if there is any conflict among the provisions of the following types of
rules, those higher on the list will govern over those lower:
a.
The By-Laws of the appropriate organization
b.
The Corporate Policies of the appropriate organization
c.
The Corpora of the Society
d.
Society Officers’ Policies approved by the Board
e.
Kingdom Law (within the kingdom that enacts it)
f.
Decision of the Crown (within the kingdom and for the duration of the current reign)
g.
Principality Law (within the principality that enacts it)
h.
Decision of the Coronet (within the principality and for the duration of the current
reign)
4.
If they find it useful to codify their customs, branches and organizations such as orders,
guilds, et cetera, are permitted to create charters. Charters are primarily administrative tools that
can help the group to define structure and procedures. Unless written into kingdom or principality
law organizational charters do not have the force of law. Branch charters may not be written into
law.
B.
Role of Corpora
Corpora serves as a framework for the structure of the historical re-creation activities of the Society,
and applies equally to all branches worldwide, regardless of corporate affiliation. The various
Board-approved Policies of Society officers provide guidance for the operations of those offices.
Kingdoms may follow custom or make law in areas where these policies are silent, as long as they
remain consistent with the general approach embodied therein. They may also impose additional
rules and requirements for branches, offices, and awards within their jurisdiction, but may not
reduce or waive any specified requirement contained at a higher level in the Precedence of Law.
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C.
Role of the Board
1.
Rules
The Board of Directors of the SCA Inc. establishes the rules of the Society’s historical recreation
activities and minimum administrative requirements for officers and branches; these are published
in Corpora. It is the final arbiter of the interpretations of these rules as made by the officers of the
Society. It reserves to itself various powers as described in Corpora, and these reservations apply
to all branches, regardless of corporate affiliation.
2.
Intervention
If the Board finds it necessary to intervene in branch affairs to protect the SCA‘s legal standing, its
action will be directed as nearly as possible at the individuals responsible for the lapse. The Board
will move against a branch as a whole only if repeated failures prove it incapable of locating and
maintaining reliable officers, to be determined and defined on a case-by-case basis.
3.
Publication of changes
a.
Under normal circumstances, the Board will publicize proposed changes to Corpora
in sufficient time to allow comment from the membership before making a final
determination.
b.
The Board of Directors shall give a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days’ notice to
Kingdom Administration of the effective date of changes made Corpora. This notice shall be
in written form and the sixty days shall count from the date of mailing. In case of an
emergency, less notice may be given, such notice to be no less than thirty (30) days before
the implementation date for such changes. In all cases where less than sixty days’ notice
was given, the notice shall be accompanied by a letter of explanation of the emergency
prompting the change.
4.
Relationship with branches
a.
The Board will maintain a policy of non-interference with branch activities. The Board
reserves the right to intervene in branch affairs if:
(i)
the events leading to such intervention appear to cause a threat to the
integrity of the Society or the SCA, Inc.;
(ii)
the governing documents of the Society appear to have been violated;
(iii)
there is a threat to the SCA’s legal standing; or
(iv)
the Board is asked to become involved.
b.
If the Board finds it necessary to intervene in branch affairs to protect the SCA‘s legal
standing, its action will be directed as nearly as possible at the individuals responsible for
the lapse. The Board will move against a branch as a whole only if repeated failures prove it
incapable of locating and maintaining reliable officers.
c.
The application of any sanctions will depend upon the severity of the lapse, and the
degree to which the affected parties were involved in either causing the problem or
attempting to solve it.
d.
The Board shall ensure that each kingdom shall have a specific Board member,
called an ombudsman, assigned to act as its representative to the Board, and vice versa, for
matters concerning that kingdom.
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5.
Right of appeal
a.
The Board is the ultimate determiner and arbiter of the rules of the Society,
regardless of what authority it may delegate elsewhere. All members of the Society shall
therefore have the right of appeal to the Board, provided they follow proper channels for
complaint and appeal.
b.
When individual actions or decisions are appealed to the Board, any Directors who
have been personally involved with the matters in question within the medieval structure of
the Society must declare the potential conflict of interest and withdraw from the ruling.
6.
Impeachment
A Director’s tenure on the Board can be challenged by means of a petition presented to the
Board (via the Corporate Office) by a majority of either the current Crowns or current
Kingdom Seneschals. Such a petition will invoke the impeachment procedures presented in
the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc.
7.
Communications with the Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc.
a.
The Corporate Office serves as the primary channel of communications to and from
the Board, and materials intended for the agenda must be sent to the Corporate Office for
distribution, with a copy to the ombudsman for the affected kingdom and/or office and the
administration of the affiliated corporation of which the correspondent is a member, if
applicable. The Corporate Office prepares and distributes Board minutes, and arranges for
publication of any decisions by the Board pertaining to the Governing Documents, any
proposals for such decisions which the Board wishes disseminated for comment, and any
other communications from the Board to the membership.
b.
Decisions of the Board are effective immediately, but shall not be considered binding
until made available to the segment of the membership they affect via direct mailing, printing
in the appropriate corporate publications, or other methods the Board shall establish.
c.
Any communication with the Board is considered public unless the author stipulates
at the time of writing that the document is to be considered confidential. Confidential
documents will not be distributed outside the corporate staff unless the author’s permission
has been obtained. Reasonable requests for copies of other communications must be made
in writing to the corporate office, and all such requests are automatically considered public
documents.
d.
For communications to be considered by the Board, they must be dated and include
the author’s legal name. A Society name may also be included when appropriate. A method
of contacting the author (either postal or email address) must be included.
e.
The Board does not accept anonymous communications, and electronic
communications with no identifier of the sender other than an email address will be
considered anonymous.
8.
Operations outside the USA
The Board recognizes that the development of branches outside the United States
enhances the Society as a whole by providing additional sources of ideas and materials,
and additional opportunities for travel and education among the membership. However,
while it is desirable for the SCA, Inc. to make an effort to assist such branches in their early
development, it is not appropriate for one group of members to subsidize another
indefinitely. The members in each country must eventually contribute enough to cover the
ongoing expenses of operation in their country.
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D.
Membership Requirements
1.
General
Participants should expect to show proof of membership in order to qualify for member privileges.
The level of proof required should be commensurate with the long-term risk to the Society posed by
an erroneous claim to membership.
2.
Officers
a.
Officers at all levels of the Society must be Society members as defined in the
Glossary and must have immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area
received at their residence. (Alternate access arrangements may be made for members of
affiliated organizations or on a case-by-case basis for people with post office boxes and for
International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as successors to
officers subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties. Deputies
who only assist with specific tasks are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.
b.
The warrants and/or appointments of officers found to be without a valid membership
shall be considered terminated as of the date of the lapse.
c.
Warrants terminated due to a lapse in membership may or may not be reinstated
upon demonstration of a valid membership at the pleasure of the warranting authority and
within the confines of the governing documents and kingdom law.
3.
Awards
Each Kingdom may, if it so desires, require paid membership in the Society for any of the following:
receiving a Patent of Arms; receiving a Grant of Arms; receiving an Award of Arms; admission to an
armigerous order. Such requirements must be written into Kingdom Law, and may not imply or state
that a person must remain a member to retain such awards or titles once given. A Kingdom which
establishes such laws must ensure that its populace is informed of these requirements, and is
responsible for their enforcement.
E.
Unofficial Entities
In many kingdoms, there are groups in which many people participate but which are not formally
recognized by the Society. These can range from highly structured guilds to loosely associated camping
groups. Entities that fall into this category can have many names, including but not limited to households,
guilds, ships, and clans. Although these entities are not recognized by the Society in any formal way, some
kingdoms have awards that can be given to these groups. Because they are not official Society groups,
unofficial entities cannot sponsor Society events.
F.
Sanctions
1.
Sanctions and administrative actions should be proportionate and appropriate. Major
sanctions, such as a ban on attendance or participation, should not be a substitute for appropriate
administrative or legal action.
2.
Administrative sanctions include, but are not limited to, suspension or removal from office,
revocation of authorization, or removal of a disruptive element from an event by the individual
responsible for the event, as defined in the appropriate section of Corpora. The Royalty should work
with the appropriate officers to impose any sanctions.
3.
Offenses against contemporary civil or criminal law should be dealt with through the
appropriate legal system. This does not preclude the SCA from taking other appropriate actions.
4.
For more details see the SCA Sanction Guide.
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II.
EVENTS
A.
Society Events Defined
The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities whereby participants can
display the results of their researches into the culture and technology of the period in an environment which
evokes the atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It also refers to
educational activities involving either one-time classes or ongoing Society university organizations, and
meetings where participants share skills or discuss the business of the group. All Society events must be
sponsored by official branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of the sponsoring branch,
publicized at least to the members of that branch, and conducted according to Society rules.
B.
Requirements for Participants at Society Events
Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at pre-17th century clothing,
conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies with any other requirements (including but not limited
to site fees or waivers) which may be imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the
requirement to wear pre-17th century dress may be waived. All participants are expected to behave as
ladies or gentlemen.
C.
Business Requiring Prior Announcement
Formal actions and announcements with long-term impact on the Society may occur only at Society events
for which a full announcement including date, time, and place has been published in advance in the
appropriate corporate publication. These actions include Crown and Coronet Tournaments, Coronations
and Investitures, appointment of officers, presentation of awards and titles, proclamation of law, and the
establishment or advancement of branches. However, deputy officers and officers below principality level
need not be appointed at published events.
D.
Individuals in Charge of Events
Each Society event must have one Society member appointed by the sponsoring branch in attendance and
responsible for the general conduct of the event. Where an event involves only one type of Society activity,
the responsible member is the appropriate branch officer, or someone designated by that officer (usually
called an Autocrat or Event Steward). Where an event includes a variety of activities, the responsible
member is the branch Seneschal or someone designated by the branch Seneschal (usually called an
Autocrat or Event Steward). Events including Society combat or combat-related activities must have at
least one warranted marshal, designated by the Marshal of the sponsoring branch, in attendance and
responsible for those activities.
E.
Duty to Enforce Requirements
1.
The officer(s) of the sponsoring branch responsible for an event shall ensure that the event
operates according to the rules set forth in this document. If transgressions occur which seriously
compromise the integrity of the event or endanger the health and safety of the attendees, the
responsible officers shall correct the problem immediately as follows:
2.
Disruptive elements at an event may be removed from the event by the individual
responsible for that event or other appropriate officer. Offenses against contemporary civil or
criminal law should be dealt with through the appropriate legal system. This does not preclude the
Society from taking other appropriate actions as described in Corpora X.
3.
The responsible officer for the event may find it necessary to remove Society approval for
the event, or call the appropriate civil authorities, such as police, fire, or medical personnel. If the
responsible officer cannot or will not do so, the senior Seneschal present, or (in cases involving the
Rules of the Lists) the senior Marshal present shall do whatever is necessary to end the
transgressions, and notify the responsible officers and the owner of the site or the owner’s agent
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that the Society will no longer be responsible for the event. In such a case, all official actions
properly performed prior to the point when sanction was removed will be considered valid.
However, no action taken after that point, including transfers of office or bestowal of awards, will be
considered valid. If an event is terminated in this manner, the person(s) doing so must notify the
Society Seneschal, the appropriate kingdom officers, and any other appropriate Society officers as
soon as possible. They must also file a complete written report of the circumstances with the
Society Seneschal, the appropriate kingdom officers, and any other appropriate Society officers
within 30 days.
4.
It is not the responsibility of Crowns to deal with violations of modern law. When asked to
resolve situations that fall under the jurisdiction of modern authorities, it is the Crown’s responsibility
to cooperate in referring such violations to the modern authorities. Further, it is the responsibility of
the officers, particularly the local or Kingdom Seneschal, to ensure that the modern authorities are
promptly notified.
F.
Policy on Religion
1.
Having no wish to recreate the religious conflicts of the period under study, the Society shall
neither establish nor prohibit any system of belief among its members. No one shall perform any
religious or magical ceremony at a Society event (or in association with the name of the Society) in
such a way as to imply that the ceremony is authorized, sponsored, or promulgated by the Society
or to force anyone at a Society event, by direct or indirect pressure, to observe or join the
ceremony. However, this provision is in no way intended to discourage the study of historical belief
systems and their effects on the development of Western culture.
2.
Except as provided herein, neither the Society nor any member acting in its name or that of
any of its parts shall interfere with any person’s lawful ceremonies, nor shall any member
discriminate against another upon grounds related to either’s system of belief.
G.
Waterbearing
The activity of providing beverages to combatants and spectators at SCA Combat activities is not
regulated, warranted, organized, controlled, or sanctioned by the SCA, Inc. or any affiliate or subsidiary
entity. Any warrants, authorizations, or other formal recognition of this activity which may currently exist
are by publication of this change revoked. The change does not address or restrict any volunteer activities
regarding providing beverages to combatants or spectators at SCA Combat activities nor the methods by
which such provisions may be made. This does not preclude or affect SCA award recognition.
III.
BRANCHES
A.
General
1.
The Society defines standard categories for branches based on several criteria. Groups are
encouraged to develop well beyond the required minimum levels before petitioning for a change in
status, to assure the stability and permanence of the branch if the petition is granted. Since
members have free choice of what areas they will explore, it follows that Society branches cannot
decide to specialize. The choice of a single time and place for a branch would make it hard for
members there to pursue other interests of their own.
2.
While international memberships may be used in the calculation of membership totals for
branch status, a branch based on international memberships must have least one subscription to
the appropriate corporate publication for their geographic area. The exact number required is a
matter for negotiation among the Seneschals of the branch, principality, and kingdom, and the
Society Seneschal. The required subscription(s) may be purchased communally by the branch.
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B.
Borders
1.
Each branch must have established borders, enclosing a single, contiguous area. At the
Board’s discretion, exceptions may be made in the case of overseas areas dependent upon
kingdoms or principalities. Branch borders need not necessarily follow state lines or similar political
divisions, if other clearly definable lines are available. In some cases, the “border” may be defined
in terms of an institution rather than a specific map reference.
2.
Branches below principality level may not cross over state or national borders without the
authorization of the Society Seneschal. The Kingdom Seneschal, with the approval of the Crown,
may approve border adjustments below the principality level; specifically including adjustments to
Baronial level borders to allow areas to form independent branches, as long as such adjustments
are consistent with branch organization and designations.
3.
All kingdom and principality border adjustment petitions should be prepared by the Kingdom
Seneschal(s) involved, and sent to the Society Seneschal, who will present them to the Board.
C.
Branch Designations
1.
The designations given below are considered standard, and their use for branches of the
appropriate type needs no special justification:
a.
Kingdom: area ruled by a King and Queen
b.
Principality: area within a kingdom ruled by Prince and Princess
c.
Barony: area administered by a Baron and/or Baroness, the ceremonial
representative(s) of the Crown
d.
Province: equivalent of barony without ceremonial representative
e.
Shire: local branch reporting directly to a kingdom or principality
f.
Canton: local branch reporting through a barony
g.
Riding: local branch reporting through a province
h.
College: institutional branch based at a school, research facility, etc.
i.
Stronghold: institutional branch based at a military installation
j.
Port: institutional branch based at a military installation in situations where groups of
members will be detached for long periods, as with ships at sea
2.
The Society recognizes that the use of these terms has developed over time, and does not
require branches which adopted any of them in a sense other than that described herein prior to
release of the 1989 Governing Documents to conform to the policy. Further, the Society recognizes
that equivalent terms exist in many languages, and permits a branch to use any valid equivalent for
the standard designation for a branch of its level, as determined by the College of Arms. Any
branch wishing to use a term which has not yet been included on the College’s list of established
alternates should apply through its kingdom’s College of Heralds for permission to use the new
designation.
3.
Lateral changes in branch designation (such as between barony and province or between
shire and college) must be submitted to the Society Seneschal for review and approval, in order to
provide an outside confirmation that the needs of the membership will be served by the change.
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4.
Kingdom: A kingdom is a sovereign entity within the Society which has the right to select a
ruling King and Queen by armored combat. A branch or contiguous group of branches may petition
for kingdom status if the resulting entity would fulfill the requirements listed below:
a.
At least 400 members.
b.
Candidates for all Great Officer positions, each of whom is acceptable to the Society
Officer responsible for the direction of that aspect of Society activity.
c.
A name and device registered with the College of Arms.
d.
Consensus favoring advancement in branch status by the members in the proposed
kingdom, demonstrated by procedures acceptable to the Kingdom and Society Seneschals.
e.
A record of well-attended events together with regular study or guild meetings,
demonstrations, and other educational activities for the benefit of the members and the
community at large.
f.
Sufficient members of the orders conferring Patents of Arms to advise the Crown
regarding the admission of candidates to those orders and to foster the development of
those orders and the skills they represent within the kingdom.
g.
Sufficient fighters of such caliber as to invest the competition for the Crown with the
dignity and value it merits.
h.
A body of kingdom law which provides for the maintenance and succession of the
Crown; for the definition and advancement of local branches; for the appointment and
removal of territorial Barons and Baronesses; for the conduct of such courts as may be
required for the maintenance of the realm; and for such other matters as are found
necessary. Draft laws, in the form to be presented to the victors of the first Crown Lists, must
accompany a petition for kingdom status.
i.
A newsletter with quality and stability suitable for conversion to a corporate
publication of the Society.
5.
Principality: A principality is a part of a kingdom which has the right to select a reigning
Prince and Princess by armored combat. A branch or contiguous group of branches within a
kingdom may petition for principality status if the resulting entity would fulfill the requirements listed
below:
a.
At least 100 members.
b.
Candidates for all Great Officer positions, each of whom is acceptable to the
kingdom officer responsible for the direction of that aspect of Society activity, and such other
officers as kingdom law and custom may require.
c.
A name and device registered with the College of Arms.
d.
Consensus favoring advancement in branch status by the members in the proposed
principality, demonstrated by procedures acceptable to the Kingdom and Society
Seneschals.
e.
A record of well-attended events together with regular study or guild meetings,
demonstrations, and other educational activities for the benefit of the members and the
community at large.
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f.
Sufficient members of the orders conferring Patents of Arms to foster the
development of those orders and the skills they represent within the principality.
g.
Sufficient fighters of such caliber as to provide appropriate competition for the
Coronet.
h.
A body of principality law which provides for the maintenance and succession of the
Coronet, and for any other matters delegated or permitted by the parent kingdom. Draft
laws, in the form in which they will be presented to the victors of the first Coronet Lists, must
accompany a petition for principality status.
6.
Baronies and Provinces: Baronies and provinces are large branches within and subject to
the administration of a kingdom (or principality, if any). They are alike in status and in the ability to
administer other branches within their borders, but differ in that baronies possess a Baron and/or
Baroness, ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to
create and administer awards, while provinces do not. A branch or contiguous group of branches
may petition for baronial or provincial status at the members’ option, subject to the approval of the
Crown and (if applicable) the Coronet, if the resulting entity meets the requirements listed below:
a.
At least 25 members.
b.
A set of officers acceptable to the Crown (and Coronet, if applicable).
c.
A name and device registered with the College of Arms.
d.
Consensus favoring advancement in branch status, and favoring the type of branch
(barony or province) specified in the petition. This consensus is determined by kingdom law
and custom. If the branch is to be a barony, arrangements shall have been made with the
Crown at the time of application for baronial status to select and appoint a Baron and/or
Baroness in accordance with kingdom law and custom.
e.
A strong record of activity in a variety of fields of Society endeavor.
7.
Other local branches: Below baronial/provincial level, branch establishment proceeds
according to kingdom law and custom, subject to the Society Seneschal‘s review and the
requirements set forth below. These branches may adopt designations as provided for by the laws
and customs of their kingdoms and as established in this document. Minimum requirements
include:
a.
At least 5 members
b.
At least 3 officers, including a Seneschal, an Exchequer, and one of the following: a
Herald, a Marshal, or a Minister of Arts and Sciences. Local branches are encouraged to fill
all the latter positions.
c.
A name registered with the College of Arms.
d.
Consensus among members in the area favoring establishment of the proposed
branch.
e.
A special type of local branch is available for use at schools or military bases, or in
other situations where membership is likely to fluctuate for reasons beyond the members’
control. The “territory” of such branches is defined in terms of affiliation with the institution
where they are based, not in terms of physical boundaries. Institutional branches may report
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directly to a kingdom, but if their institution is located within the borders of a branch of any
other class, they report through that branch. They differ from other local branches in that
they go dormant if membership falls below five (5), rather than being disbanded.
D.
Establishment and Advancement
1.
The Society and Kingdom Seneschals will work together as necessary to process petitions
for branch establishment or advancement. Society members, who wish to form a branch, advance
an existing branch in status, or advance a group of branches in status must first determine whether
the area they have in mind is eligible for such treatment. This process shall involve consultation with
the Kingdom (and Principality, if any) Seneschal, and with the Seneschals of any nearby branches.
2.
The Society permits very broad participation by people who are not members as defined in
the By-Laws. However no part of the Society can be required to solicit or heed non-member views
regarding branch status, or any other situation where the opinion of the populace is to be consulted.
Law, custom, or actual practice may allow consultation with nonmembers, but it cannot be required.
3.
If necessary, the members shall reach a consensus as to a proposed name (and device,
where required) and register it with the College of Arms before any petition for recognition can be
granted.
4.
The members of the proposed branch shall prepare a petition for the proposed action,
stating the proportion of their numbers favoring the move, and demonstrating that the requirements
are met. The petition shall be submitted as specified by kingdom law and custom. The Kingdom
Seneschal shall review the petition to determine whether the proposed branch elevation conforms
to Corpora and kingdom law and custom, consulting royalty and other kingdom or principality
officers as appropriate for the level of branch under consideration. If the Kingdom Seneschal
decides to recommend that the petition should be granted, the action to be taken depends on the
level of branch, as follows:
a.
Kingdoms: The Kingdom Seneschal of the parent kingdom shall determine whether
the petition package is complete. The Seneschal shall forward the entire petition package
(together with the accumulated recommendations, comments, and reasons for approval) to
the Society Seneschal for review. The Society Seneschal shall bring the petition before the
Board for formal action.
b.
Principalities: The Kingdom Seneschal shall forward the entire petition package
(together with the accumulated recommendations, comments, and reasons for approval) to
the Society Seneschal for review. The Society Seneschal shall bring the petition before the
Board for formal action.
c.
Baronies and provinces: The Kingdom Seneschal shall forward the entire petition
package, including statements regarding the opinions of the relevant officers and royalty, to
the Society Seneschal for review. The Society Seneschal shall determine the acceptability
of the petition and either notify the Seneschal that the branch advancement may proceed, or
that there are deficiencies which need to be corrected before the petition can be approved.
The Society Seneschal will report the change in status to the Board.
d.
Institutional branches and local branches other than baronies and provinces: The
Kingdom Seneschal shall advise the Crown if the petition is acceptable. After the Crown
acknowledges the creation of the branch, the Kingdom Seneschal shall inform the Society
Seneschal of the name, location and date of elevation and the Society Seneschal shall then
notify the Board.
5.
Appeals: If a petition to change branch status is denied at any stage, the petition will be
returned to the originator(s) together with the accumulated recommendations, comments, and
reasons for denial. Any denial may be appealed to the next level.
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E.
Reservations to the Board
The Board specifically reserves to itself the following functions with respect to branches of the Society:
1.
To set and revise the borders of principalities and kingdoms.
2.
To deny recognition to any group, regardless of other criteria met, for just cause, stated in
writing to the affected people.
3.
To change the status of any branch to reflect its current qualifications.
4.
To dissolve a branch should it fail to continue to meet the qualifications for a branch of any
level, or for other just cause, stated in writing to the affected people.
5.
To authorize a branch or group of branches to experiment with a non-standard class of
organization. Any such authorization is specific to the branch obtaining it.
IV.
ROYALTY
A.
Selection
1.
Royal Lists must be conducted at a tournament announced in the kingdom newsletter as
being for that purpose. Crowns or Coronets who wish to conduct a royal list in a manner other than
individual combat must obtain the prior approval of the Board of Directors.
2.
Each competitor and prospective consort must hold a valid membership on the day of the
Royal Lists. Within ten business days after being declared victor in a Crown or Coronet Tourney,
the Victor and Consort must present to the Kingdom Seneschal proof that their memberships are
current through at least the end of the prospective reign. Positive confirmation consists of; a valid
membership card, appearance of the name with a valid membership on a printout from the
Corporate Office, a membership label issued by the Corporate Office showing the name and
expiration date, receipt of online membership (as downloaded from the renewal website), or a
postcard or letter from the Corporate office confirming that the membership has been received.
3.
Kingdoms and principalities will ensure that all competitors in Crown and Coronet Lists are
aware of and meet the membership requirements for themselves and their prospective consorts at
the time they register for the Lists. Any officer of the Society or representative of a Kingdom found
responsible for allowing a non-member to participate as an entrant or prospective consort in a
Royal List will be subject to sanctions.
B.
Qualifications
1.
Each competitor in a Royal List must be fighting for a prospective consort of the opposite
sex unless the Crown has elected to permit a competitor to fight for a prospective consort of the
same sex.
2.
No one may take part in a Royal Lists, either as a competitor or as a prospective consort,
who has any reason to believe that either member of that competing couple will be unable to fulfill
the duties of royalty.
3.
Each competitor and prospective consort must have access to the appropriate corporate
newsletter at their place of residence.
C.
Duties
1.
Royalty must know and uphold the laws of their realm and Corpora.
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2.
The royal pair must attend their Coronation or Investiture, preside over the Royal Lists to
select their successors, and attend the Coronation or Investiture of their successors. They must
also attend such other events as may be dictated by the laws of their realm. Should extreme and
extraordinary circumstances prevent a Crown, heir to the Crown, Coronet, or heir to the Coronet,
from completing the these requirements, the Board of Directors may, upon substantial petition, and
on a case by case basis, waive these requirements to allow the bestowing of a royal peerage or
royal title.
3.
Royalty shall be the chief examples of chivalry, courtesy, and the other virtues appropriate
to the ideals of the Society, and shall inspire these virtues in their subjects. They shall be true and
faithful rulers for their subjects, uphold their subjects’ rights and work for their benefit, and maintain
an impartial justice for all in the realm.
4.
Royalty shall give appropriate recognition to those worthy of such honor.
5.
Royalty shall foster an atmosphere that encourages new and prospective members to feel
welcome to participate in Society activities.
6.
Royalty shall foster an atmosphere that encourages their subjects to participate in arts and
sciences activities.
7.
Royalty shall defend the realm from all foes, domestic and foreign.
8.
Royalty, acting with and through the officers of the realm, administer the lands and branches
which comprise the realm. Royalty consult the officers of the realm in matters concerning the
officers’ areas of responsibility, and monitor the performance of their officers to the extent
necessary to confirm that they are performing essential duties. They sign such internal documents
as are necessary for the conduct of business within the realm.
9.
The Sovereign supervises combat on the field of honor.
10.
The Royal Heirs and Royalty must maintain their memberships until their term as Royalty is
over. Should anyone serving as a Royal Heir, or as Royalty, be found in violation of the
membership requirements, that individual’s term ends as of the date of the membership lapse.
Provisions for dealing with the situation are addressed in Kingdom Law within each individual
kingdom. The individual shall not receive any recognition for having temporarily held the status of
Royal Heirs or Royalty.
D.
Privileges
1.
Royalty receive such gifts as may be made to the realm, use them appropriately in
accordance with law and custom, and preserve them for their successors. If a gift is designated as
personal by the donor, the royalty may retain it after the conclusion of the reign. During their reign,
Royalty may use such items as the royal office shall already hold, in accordance with the law and
custom of the realm.
2.
Royalty may delegate to any subject the execution of any legitimate royal power for a
specific instance, such as the transmission of an award to an individual named and selected by
them, subject to the laws and customs of the realm.
E.
Limitations
1.
Royalty are subject to all current Society rules and kingdom and/or principality law.
2.
No Sovereign or Consort may fight or be fought for in any Royal Lists, nor may anyone hold
more than one royal office, except for those held by virtue of holding another. (For example, a King
may be temporarily Prince of a principality, if the Coronet is vacated and the Kingdom laws
regarding succession make this provision.) Neither the Sovereign nor the Consort may become
either Sovereign or Consort of that realm in the reign immediately following their own.
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3.
Royalty may delegate:
a.
the decision-making powers on legislation, distribution of armigerous awards and
orders, or banishment, or
b.
signature authority for warrants and rosters to territorial princes and princesses
within their Kingdom.
Royalty may not delegate these powers or authorities to anyone else.
4.
Royalty may grant armigerous awards to subjects of other realms only if all the following
conditions apply:
a.
the service or achievements being recognized must have taken place in the realm of
the conferring royalty,
b.
the conferring royalty must comply with all consultation provisions and other
restrictions in the law of its realm,
c.
the conferring royalty must obtain prior written consent from the Crown of the realm
of the recipient.
d.
For patent orders, the Crown of the realm of the recipient must likewise comply with
any consultation provisions and other restrictions in its own law.
F.
Kingdom and Principality Law
1.
The Crown or the Coronet may make and amend such laws of their realm as they deem
necessary, with the restriction that principality laws are subject to the approval of the Crown. (Note
that law applies to all persons participating in Society activities within the borders of the realm,
without regard to subject status or individual fealty.)
2.
Law must be kept current, and all changes thereto must be proclaimed at a Society event
and published in the kingdom newsletter. No provision of law shall be in effect, nor shall the
subjects of a realm be responsible for such provision, until such proclamation and publication have
taken place.
3.
If a new law of the realm conflicts with an existing provision, the latter must be explicitly
repealed. Any law declared null and void because of a conflict must be explicitly repealed. Laws
that are repealed must be proclaimed and published in the same manner as the original law.
4.
No law may require members or branches to make donations to the treasury of the realm.
Laws which discuss voluntary donations are acceptable, as are those which mandate reasonable
fees for events and services or discuss financial arrangements for the realm’s main events
sponsored by local branches.
5.
Failure of the Reign or Succession: Procedures shall be established in the law of the realm
to ensure the succession and to provide for the maintenance of the realm and its royal offices in the
event of disaster, failure, or absence of any of the reigning royalty or their heirs. At kingdom option,
the procedures for principality succession may be placed in kingdom law.
G.
The Crown
1.
The Crown may present Awards of Arms, the titles of Court Baron and Court Baroness, and
Grants of Arms in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. The Crown may establish
and present such other awards as the Crown shall deem proper, in accordance with the laws and
customs of the kingdom.
2.
The Crown may elevate subjects to the Peerage by granting membership in one of the
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Orders conferring a Patent of Arms, after consultation with the members of the Order within the
Kingdom, and in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. Restriction: to advance a
candidate to the Order of Knighthood, a Knight of the Society must bestow the accolade.
3.
The Crown shall acknowledge attainment of Ducal, County or Viscounty rank by those who
have met the requirements. The privilege of acknowledging Viscounty rank is designed for use
when the Coronet is unavailable, as at the conclusion of a principality.
4.
The Crown may appoint, remove, and replace Great Officers of State, in conjunction with
the appropriate Society Officers, if any. The Crown may appoint, remove, and replace lesser
officers of the kingdom in conjunction with the appropriate Great Officers, if any.
5.
The Crown may either control the appointment, removal, and replacement of principality
officers in conjunction with the Great Officers of State, or it may delegate this authority to the
Coronet.
6.
The Crown may appoint, remove and replace territorial Barons and Baronesses in
accordance with this document, kingdom law and custom.
7.
The Crown may suspend any officer of the kingdom for just cause, stated in writing to the
affected person, for the duration of the reign.
8.
No Sovereign or Consort may hold any office in the kingdom other than territorial Baron or
Baroness for the duration of the reign.
9.
The Crown may establish and call such courts as may be necessary for the governance of
the realm, in accordance with kingdom law and custom.
a.
Any courts within the Society are presumed to be within the historical context of the
Society and pertain only to conduct within the structure and definitions of the Society.
b.
The primary purpose for these courts within the Society is for the investigation of
questions and issues, for opening communications on issues; and for the clarification of
issues. Only secondarily are courts considered to be for the purpose of trying members of
the Society for alleged behavior or incidents. No courts of the latter type are to be
established by any branch below kingdom level.
c.
No court shall be held within any kingdom on individual behavior that falls within the
jurisdiction of a civil or criminal court maintained by the nation or other political division
where it takes place, nor shall any recommendation about individuals be made on such
issues. However, a given action may have implications both in law and in the Society‘s rules
of courteous behavior. A court which restricts itself to the latter may be held as long as the
act in question occurred in a Society context.
d.
If a court concludes that the appropriate action is one beyond the powers of the
Crown or Kingdom to enact, the judgment should be issued in the form of a request to the
Society Seneschal.
10.
Reservations to the Board.
The Board explicitly reserves to itself the discipline of members for actions taken while serving as
Sovereign or Consort of a kingdom. However, the Board will not consider appeals against the
Crown before the aggrieved parties have attempted to resolve their problem directly with the Crown,
and then with the appropriate kingdom and corporate officers, including the Society Seneschal.
11.
The Crown may sanction subjects of their realm and visitors thereto in accordance with
Corpora X.A. (Royal Sanctions)
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H.
The Coronet
1.
The Coronet shall administer the principality, its branches and subjects on behalf of the
Crown, uphold their people’s rights, work for their benefit, maintain the Crown’s justice, and be true
and faithful servants of their Crown.
2.
The Coronet shall recommend to the Crown those subjects whose achievements and
service within the principality are worthy of recognition that cannot be granted by the Coronet.
3.
The Coronet may make armigerous awards only where the right has been formally
delegated to them by the Crown. Any such general delegation extends only to subjects of their
principality; the Coronet must obtain specific authorization from the Crown for armigerous awards to
other persons. They shall acknowledge the attainment of Viscounty rank by those who have met the
requirements. The Coronet may establish and present non-armigerous awards specific to their
principality.
4.
If authority has been delegated by the Crown, the Coronet may appoint, remove, or replace
Great Officers of the principality, in conjunction with the appropriate kingdom Great Officers. The
Coronet may likewise appoint, remove, and replace Lesser Officers of the principality, in
conjunction with the appropriate kingdom or principality Great Officers, if any. The Crown may
require consultation and prior approval for any or all of these steps. The Coronet may suspend any
officer of the principality for just cause, stated in writing to the affected person for the duration of the
reign.
5.
No Sovereign or Consort may hold any office in the principality other than territorial Baron or
Baroness, or any kingdom-level office, for the duration of the reign.
6.
The Coronet may call courts of inquiry only if the Crown approves.
7.
Reservations to the Crown
a.
When the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and
custom, the normal recourse should be to in-kingdom mediation and then to a Court of
Chivalry.
b.
If the Board upholds the judgment of such a Court, the affected parties may be
subject to loss of any honors and privileges deriving from their reign, and nullification of any
official acts dating back to the incident which led to the invocation of the Court.
c.
If the Crown feels that rapid action is essential to protect the Society, it has the
option of banishing the Coronet from the realm, effectively putting the principality reign into
abeyance until either conditions change within the kingdom or the Board countermands the
order. However, if the Board does not agree with the Crown’s judgment regarding the
urgency of the situation, the Board may choose to take action against the Crown as well as
or instead of against the Coronet.
8.
Reservations to the Board
a.
The Board reserves to itself the final determination regarding discipline of members
for actions taken while serving as Sovereign or Consort of a principality. However, the
Coronet remains subject to the Crown, and provisions regarding Courts of Chivalry and
banishment still apply.
b.
The Coronet may sanction subjects of their realm and visitors thereto in accordance
with Corpora X.A. (Royal Sanctions).
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V.
TERRITORIAL BARONS AND BARONESSES
A.
Appointment and Removal
1.
The Crown shall appoint a territorial Baron and/or Baroness according to the laws and
customs of the kingdom when a branch is granted baronial status, or whenever a new Baron and/or
Baroness are required. The barony‘s opinion on the matter must be requested and received in
writing, and the appointments must not be substantially opposed by the populace of the barony.
Territorial Barons and Baronesses are officers and must maintain appropriate membership status.
2.
The Crown may suspend a territorial Baron and/or Baroness for the duration of a reign, for
just cause stated in writing and presented only to the Baron and/or Baroness. Suspension would
prohibit the use of the baronial titles and arms, the conduct of baronial courts, and the presentation
of baronial awards.
3.
The Crown may remove a territorial Baron and/or Baroness for just cause stated in writing
and presented only to the Baron and/or Baroness; however, the Crown must request a written
opinion from the populace of the barony before taking such action.
B.
Responsibilities
1.
The basic duties of the Baron and/or Baroness are ceremonial in nature in reflecting the
royal presence in the barony. The Crown may assign additional duties and responsibilities,
according to the laws and customs of the kingdom.
2.
Territorial Barons and/or Baronesses are responsible to the Crown and (if the barony is
within a principality) to the Coronet. The Baron and/or Baroness shall work with the baronial officers
as circumstances dictate, and shall keep these officers informed as necessary for the efficient
performance of their duties and effective liaison within the barony.
3.
The privileges, duties, and rights, ceremonial and otherwise, of the office of territorial Baron
and/or Baroness are established by the laws and customs of the kingdom, and shall include the
right to make such awards as the Crown (or the Coronet, if applicable) shall specifically delegate,
and to establish and present non-armigerous awards specific to the barony.
4.
A territorial Baron or Baroness may hold any other Society office for which he or she is fitted
and qualified, save only those of Baronial Seneschal and Baronial Exchequer, but must not allow
the duties and responsibilities of such office and the office of Baron or Baroness to conflict.
VI.
SOCIETY OFFICERS
A.
General
The term “Society Officer” refers to the officers listed below in their administrative roles within the historical
structure of the Society.
1.
Responsibilities
a.
Each Society Officer shall carry out the duties assigned to that office, and may, with
the approval of the Board, appoint such deputies as may prove necessary. The following
duties are common to all Society Offices:
b.
Coordinating appointment of Great Officers of State for their areas of responsibility,
in cooperation with the Crown of each kingdom.
c.
Maintaining communications with their subordinates, and assuring the flow of
information on policies and developments in their areas of responsibility.
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d.
Reporting to the Board quarterly, with copies to the Society Seneschal, regarding the
status and activities of the kingdoms in the areas of their responsibility, and also submitting
annual summaries of this information. Failure to submit these reports is tantamount to
resignation, which may be accepted at the pleasure of the Board.
e.
2.
Maintaining communications with other Society Officers as appropriate.
Requirements and Benefits
a.
Society Officers and their warranted deputies must be members.
b.
Society Officers and some deputies may receive certain corporate periodicals
(except their home-kingdom newsletters) at Society expense, for the duration of their tenure.
The Corporate Office maintains the distribution list for these publications, at the direction of
the Board. The Kingdom Seneschal and Kingdom Chronicler may receive certain corporate
periodicals other than their own kingdom newsletter at the Society’s expense for the
duration of their terms. The Board may from time to time designate additional officers to
receive these publications.
c.
No Society Officer may hold more than one Society Office, or any kingdom or
principality Great or Lesser Office of State.
d.
No Society Officer may serve as Crown or Coronet during their tenure in office. In
order to fight or be fought for in a Crown or Coronet Lists, the officer must have served a
minimum of one year in that office and must have an appointed deputy, approved by the
Board, who is ready and willing to accept all responsibilities for that office. Committing to
become a Crown or Coronet will be considered a resignation from office.
e.
The Board shall ensure that each Society Officer shall have a specific Board
member, called an ombudsman, assigned to act as its representative to the Board, and vice
versa, for matters concerning that office.
3.
Sanctions
Society Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their area of authority, in accordance
with Corpora X.
4.
Appointment and Removal
a.
Appointment: Society Officers shall be appointed by the Board. All appointments will
be for specific terms of service, renewable at the option of the Society Officer and the Board.
The initial appointment will be for a trial period of six months. At the end of that period, the
Board will either confirm the remainder of the term of office, or appoint another person to the
office for the trial period.
b.
Warranting: Three Board members must sign the warrant for a Society Officer. For a
deputy, two Board members and the appropriate Society Officer must sign the warrant.
c.
Resignation: Society Officers may resign by submitting written notification to the
Board via the Secretary and Corporate Office.
d.
Removal: Any Society Officer or deputy may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the
Board.
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B.
Society Seneschal
The Society Seneschal is responsible for coordinating the administration of the Society’s historical recreation. This involves directing the activities of the Kingdom Seneschals and of Society-level deputies.
Where questions arise concerning the intent of Corpora, the Board specifically authorizes the Society
Seneschal to make interpretations and clarifications. Such rulings must be discussed with the Chairman at
the earliest opportunity, and reported to the Board at the following meeting. The Society Seneschal’s
rulings will stand until and unless overruled by the Chairman or the Board. The Society Seneschal is also
responsible for reviewing all sanction related activities.
C.
Laurel Sovereign of Arms and The College of Arms
1.
Laurel Sovereign of Arms
The Laurel Sovereign of Arms (Laurel) is the principal heraldic officer of the Society and the head of
the College of Arms. Laurel is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, and for
establishing rules and making determinations regarding names and armory, royal and noble titles,
and geographical designations to be approved for use in the Society.
2.
College of Arms
The College of Arms of the Society consists of the Principal Heralds of the kingdoms and such
other persons as Laurel may deem to be of assistance. It aids Laurel in studying historical heraldic
usage, developing heraldic rules for the Society’s use, and reviewing individual items prior to their
registration for use in the Society.
3.
Heraldic Administration
a.
Standards of difference and other rules: Laurel shall define standards suitable to the
type of item to be registered, and apply them uniformly to all such submissions. These
standards shall be designed to support the historical re-creations of the Society and to
provide sufficient difference from names and armory registered within the Society to avoid
undue confusion, to avoid the appearance of unearned honors or false claims, and to
provide sufficient difference from historical or fictional personages to prevent offense due to
obvious usurpation of identity or armory. Members are encouraged to develop unique,
historically valid names and armory.
b.
Any item once registered shall remain registered unless the owner requests its
release, and shall be accepted in the Society for the person for whom it was registered
without regard to changes in the rules and standards applied to future submissions, or to the
membership status of the owner.
c.
The standards and rules employed by Laurel and the College of Arms shall be
published so that participants in Society activities can obtain copies for their own reference.
The Ordinary and Armorial listing registered names and armory shall also be made available
to the membership.
d.
Laurel shall ensure that fees for the Society‘s heraldic publications and for its
services in registering names or armory are sufficient to cover the cost of such services,
both at the corporate level and within the kingdoms.
D.
Marshal of the Society
The Marshal of the Society is responsible for activities related to combat, archery and equestrian activities.
This includes directing the Earls Marshal of the Kingdoms in matters concerning the supervision of combat
and related activities at Society events and the manner and conduct of duties of all marshals throughout
the Society; working to promote safety in the Society’s martial arts; and working with the Minister of Arts
and Sciences to encourage research in armor and weapons. The Board specifically authorizes the Marshal
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to make interpretations and clarifications regarding the Rules of the Lists, with the proviso that such rulings
must be reported to the Board at the following meeting. The Marshal’s rulings will stand until and unless
overruled by the Board.
E.
Minister of Arts and Sciences
The Minister of Arts and Sciences is responsible for fostering the study of period culture and technology,
and of methods for producing historically accurate artifacts and performances. Duties include coordinating
the efforts of kingdom officers in the field (regardless of whether or not the functions related to “Arts” and
“Sciences” are combined in one job or kept separate); promoting the dissemination of accurate information
about the fields under study; and assisting the Chronicler of the Society and the editors of the corporate
publications in confirming the validity of research presented to the membership.
F.
Chronicler of the Society
The Chronicler is responsible for overseeing the production of kingdom newsletters, local branch
newsletters, kingdom and local branch websites, and any other publications the Board may designate. In
addition, the Chronicler establishes overall policies for Society-sponsored event and branch-related paper
publishing at all levels, and serves as a source of publishing expertise and advice for the benefit of the
Society.
G.
Society Chancellor of the Exchequer
1.
The Society Chancellor of the Exchequer reports directly to the Treasurer as identified in the
By-Laws.
2.
The Society Chancellor of the Exchequer shall cause to be kept and maintained adequate
and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of all branches and divisions of
the Society except those controlled by the Treasurer and the Corporate Office. Such accounts shall
include records of assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained
earnings, and other matters customarily included in financial reports.
3.
This officer accomplishes this directly, through the Kingdom Chancellors of the Exchequer,
Kingdom Chroniclers (for regional corporate publications) or through other special deputies. The
Society Chancellor of the Exchequer additionally collects and compiles reports on all such accounts
for the Society’s tax returns and other financial reports.
H.
Webminister
The Web Minister is responsible for overseeing the websites of kingdoms, local branches, and any other
website the Board may designate. In addition the Web Minister serves as a source of web publishing
expertise and advice for the benefit of the Society. The Web Minister of the Society is responsible for
collecting reports from Kingdoms, be they Greater or Lesser Officers.
I.
Reservations to the Board
The board reserves the right to appoint and remove Society Officers.
VII.
KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY, AND LOCAL OFFICERS
A.
General
1.
Officers assist Royalty in the administration of the lands and branches of the realm. Each
officer has a specific area of specialization, and a defined geographic scope. Within those bounds,
an officer coordinates branch activities, and may supervise deputies or lesser officers.
2.
Kingdom Great Officers are responsible directly to the Crown, but also report to a
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corresponding Society officer if such a Society officer exists. Each Kingdom’s Great Officer corps
must include the Seneschal, the Principal Herald, the Earl Marshal, the Minister of Arts and
Sciences, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Chronicler. No person may hold more than one
of these Great offices at a time. The Crown may create additional Great Offices. Kingdom Lesser
Officers and deputies are created by the Crown according to the needs of the kingdom. These
officers may be supervised directly by the Crown, or be placed under the jurisdiction of a Greater
Officer, and report accordingly. However, Great Officers retain ultimate responsibility for delegated
functions.
3.
Principality Great and Lesser Officer structure and duties generally parallel that of the
Kingdom, with the Great Officers responsible to the Coronet and corresponding superior kingdom
officer. Lesser officers may be supervised directly by the Coronet, or be placed under the
jurisdiction of a Principality Great Officer. Specific reporting requirements are established by
Kingdom and Principality law or custom.
4.
Local officers are responsible to a superior officer, and possibly Royalty, or a Territorial
Baron and/or Baroness, depending on the particular administrative structure of that area.
5.
Kingdom and Principality Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their area of
authority, in accordance with Corpora X.
6.
B.
The duties of the Kingdom Great Officers are defined below:
The Seneschal
1.
The Seneschal is the chief administrative officer of the Society for the kingdom, which
includes coordinating the other kingdom officers as required for the smooth operation of the
kingdom and for its relations with outside agencies. The Seneschal is responsible for assisting new
branches and branch elevations.
2.
The Seneschal shall review all proposed changes to kingdom law to determine compliance
with the governing documents of the Society, and advise the Crown accordingly. The Seneschal
shall with due promptness either acknowledge the propriety of the changes by signing them, prior to
the Crown’s enacting them, or shall state any conflicts in writing to the Crown and to the Great
Officers of the kingdom. Once the law has been enacted, the Seneschal shall ensure that the
Society Seneschal and the Board ombudsman for the kingdom receive current copies, which must
include the Seneschal’s opinion regarding apparent conflicts, if any.
C.
The Principal Herald
The Principal Herald is the head of the kingdom’s College of Heralds and is responsible for supervising
field heraldry and court heraldry at events within the kingdom, and for College of Arms activities within the
kingdom, including the timely processing of submissions for names and armory.
D.
The Earl Marshal
The Earl Marshal is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all martial arts activities, including but not
limited to tournament lists, wars, combat archery, and fencing, as well as such related activities as scouting
and target archery. The Earl Marshal bears primary responsibility for promoting both the safety and the
authenticity of the martial arts in the kingdom, but works with other officers in their areas of mutual interest.
E.
The Minister of Arts and Sciences
The Minister of Arts and Sciences is responsible for supporting study into art forms, technologies, and
those aspects of culture relating to their use, both in period and in Society activities.
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F.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for maintaining the financial records of the kingdom,
supervising the finances of the kingdom, and assembling financial reports and submitting them to the
Society Chancellor of the Exchequer in a timely fashion.
G.
The Chronicler
The Chronicler supervises all publishing activities of the kingdom, and is the editor or supervises the editor
of the kingdom newsletter, which is responsible for all required announcements and notices of Society
events, kingdom law, and other kingdom business. The Chronicler works with the Society Registrar on
matters of mailing and circulation. The Chronicler is also responsible for accounting for the corporate
stipend and other kingdom newsletter income, and reporting all such income and expenditures to the
Society Chancellor of the Exchequer as required by that officer.
H.
Duties of Other Officers
Specific duties of Kingdom Lesser Officers, deputies, Principality Officers, and Local Officers are defined
by Royalty and the appropriate superior officer.
I.
Appointment to office
1.
Kingdom Great Officers of State are appointed by the Crown after due consultation with the
outgoing officer, the Seneschal, and any other appropriate Great Officer. The appointments take
effect when and if ratified by the corresponding Corporate Officer by countersignature of the
warrant. If there is no Corporate Officer, the Crown shall act unilaterally.
2.
Kingdom Lesser Officers are appointed by the Crown in a parallel manner, where the Great
Officer takes the place of the Society Officer.
3.
Principality Great and Lesser Officers are appointed in a similar fashion, although the
specific details are governed by kingdom law or custom.
4.
Local officer appointments are usually done by the next superior officer, and confirmed by
Royalty, according to kingdom law and custom. Local officers must not be substantively opposed by
the people of the branch, but the final decision remains with the superior officer and Royalty.
J.
Warranting / Rosters
1.
Kingdom Great Officers’ appointments are confirmed by a signature from the Corporate
Level and the Crown, on the standard warrant form. All other Officer appointments may be listed on
a roster that includes the legal and Society names, address, phone number, and the appointment
and expiration dates for each officer. It must be signed by the appropriate Royalty and the
responsible superior officer, and be updated regularly. The roster must contain a statement that it is
the current roster of (office) for the (kingdom, principality) of the Society as of (date).
2.
Local Branch officers may be officers in their own right, or be deputies of officers of an
administering branch. Until a branch is proclaimed by the Crown, its officers must be deputies of
their counterparts in the administering branch.
3.
Before a proposed officer can be placed on a roster or warrant, they must have a
membership that provides immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area. This also
applies to deputies designated as an officer’s successor.
K.
Ending a term of office
1.
All office terms end upon the expiration date listed on the warrant or roster. Officers are
normally responsible for presenting a potential successor to the appropriate Royalty before their
term expires. Where a good-faith effort to fill the office is in progress, the Crown may authorize a
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Kingdom Great Officer to continue in office for up to 45 days after the expiration of the warrant.
Officers may serve successive terms only as kingdom law and custom permit. Officers must turn
over all office related materials to their successor in a timely and organized fashion when their term
ends.
2.
All officers may resign by sending written notice to the people who signed their warrant or
roster. Kingdom law may include provisions regarding levels of inactivity or non-reporting as
equivalent to resignation.
3.
Officers may be removed for just cause, stated in writing to the officer, by joint action of the
Crown and the corresponding superior officer. If there is no superior officer, the Crown may act
unilaterally, in accordance with law and custom. An officer so removed may appeal to the Board.
L.
Suspension of an officer
1.
Officers may be suspended by either the appropriate Royalty or the superior officer for just
cause, stated in writing to the officer. Suspensions by the Royalty are for not more than the duration
of the current reign. Suspensions by the superior officer are for not more than 90 days. A
suspension takes effect upon declaration to the officer, but the Royalty or the superior officer must
be informed as soon as possible. The suspension of a kingdom or principality great officer must be
announced in the next available issue of the kingdom or principality newsletter.
2.
If a deputy has been designated as successor for the post, the deputy shall automatically
assume the duties of the office at the moment of such suspension and shall continue fulfilling said
duties until the suspension is terminated. In order to be assured of the succession in the event of
the suspension of an officer, the deputy designated to succeed that officer must be on a roster or
warrant signed by that officer, and the Royalty that signed that officer’s roster or warrant. In
addition, the officer must send a copy of that warrant to their superior officer. The deputy is
considered an officer. If no designated successor exists for the post, the Royalty and superior
officer (if any) shall reach an agreement as to how to carry out the duties of the post. The
suspension stands until and unless overruled by the Board.
VIII. PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES
A.
Patents of Arms
1.
General Requirements
Candidates for any order conferring a Patent of Arms must meet the following minimum criteria.
Additional requirements may be set by law and custom of the kingdoms as deemed appropriate and
necessary by the Crown.
a.
They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the
laws of the kingdom.
b.
They shall have consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.
c.
They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer
of the realm.
d.
They shall have demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by
being as authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power.
e.
They shall have shared their knowledge and skills with others.
f.
They shall have practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to
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the circumstances.
g.
They shall have made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and
worthy of a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of
period forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and
they should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society.
h.
They should participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the
Middle Ages and Renaissance.
2.
Order of Precedence Within the Peerage
The Crown may establish the order of precedence within the peerage according to the laws and
customs of the kingdom. However, the Chivalry, the Laurel, the Pelican and Defense are of equal
precedence and must be considered as one group.
3.
Departure from the Peerage
Any member of an order conferring a Patent of Arms may resign from that order. To leave a Patent
Order, the member must send a written resignation to the Crown, the Principal of the Order (if any),
the Principal Herald, and the Board. The Crown bestows membership in Patent Orders. No
‘interchangeability’ exists from one order to another (as Knight to Master or Laurel to Pelican), and
the acceptance of a person who has so resigned an order into any other order is solely at the
discretion of the Crown according to the laws and customs of the kingdom.
4.
Patent Orders
The following institutions are established for all kingdoms in the Society. A Patent of Arms may be
conferred only upon a person being admitted into one of these orders. Each candidate for a patent
order must satisfy the general requirements listed above in A.1., as well as the specific
requirements listed here.
a.
The Chivalry:
(i)
The Chivalry consists of two equal parts: Knighthood and Mastery of Arms.
No one may belong to both parts of the order at one time. When a member is
admitted to the Chivalry by the Sovereign, the choice of which part of the order to
join is made by the new member. The candidate must be considered the equal of his
or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of tournament combat. To become
a Knight, the candidate must swear fealty to the Crown of his or her kingdom during
the knighting ceremony. Masters of Arms may choose to swear fealty, but are not
required to do so.
(ii)
The duties of the Chivalry are as follows:
(a)
To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the
field of honor.
(b)
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws
of the kingdom and Corpora.
(c)
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(d)
To support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(e)
To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or
Lord.
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(f)
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the
Chivalry.
(g)
To bestow the Accolade of Knighthood upon a candidate for the Order
of Knighthood, by sole right as both Sovereign and knight, or acting directly
for a Sovereign who is not a knight.
b.
The Order of the Laurel:
(i)
Members of the Order of the Laurel may choose to swear fealty, but are not
required to do so. The candidate must have attained the standard of excellence in
skill and/or knowledge equal to that of his or her prospective peers in some area of
the Arts or Sciences. The candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for
the instruction of members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and
beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.
(ii)
The duties of the members of the order are as follows:
(a)
To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.
(b)
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws
of the kingdom and Corpora.
(c)
If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(d)
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(e)
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the
Laurel.
c.
The Order of the Pelican.
(i)
Members of the Order of the Pelican may choose to swear fealty, but are not
required to do so. The candidate must have attained the standard of service to the
Society or any of its branches equal to that of his or her prospective peers, which is
above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.
(ii)
The duties of the members of the order are as follows:
(a)
To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.
(b)
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the Laws
of the kingdom and Corpora.
(c)
If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(d)
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(e)
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the
Pelican.
d.
The Order of Defense
(i)
Members of the Order of the Defense may choose to swear fealty, but are not
required to do so. The candidate must be considered the equal of his or her
prospective peers with the basic weapons of rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat.
The candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for the instruction of
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members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally
expected of members of the Society.
(ii)
The duties of the members of the order are as follows:
(a)
To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the
field of honor.
(b)
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the Laws
of the kingdom and Corpora.
(c)
If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
(d)
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
(e)
To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or
Lord.
(f)
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Order
of Defense.
e.
Royal Peerages: The titles assumed by former Crowns and Coronets may convey
Patents of Arms if the laws and customs of the kingdom so provide. However, in order to
receive a patent with the title, the recipient must meet the general requirements listed for
peerage.
f.
The Order of the Rose: The Order of the Rose consists of former Royal Consorts of
a kingdom. It is specifically charged with encouraging chivalrous and courteous behavior
among all members of the Society. It may be non-armigerous, or it may be defined as a
Patent Order according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. In the latter case, the
general requirements for peerage must be met.
B.
Other Awards
1.
The title of Baron or Baroness, whether territorial or of the court, shall carry at least an
Award of Arms if the recipient is not already armigerous.
2.
Kingdoms may establish awards and orders conferring Awards or Grants of Arms, and the
Crown may award membership in such orders according to the laws and customs of the kingdom.
The names and insignia of these awards and orders must be ratified by the Laurel Sovereign of
Arms. The order of precedence among orders conferring Awards or Grants of Arms shall be
established according to the laws and customs of the kingdoms. Principalities may establish their
own awards and orders, but the approval of the Crown is required before these awards and orders
may convey Arms.
3.
An armiger may resign any award or order. To do so requires a written statement, sent to
the current royalty of the level which bestowed the award, the Principal of the Order, if any, the
Principal Herald and the Board.
4.
Non-armigerous awards and orders may be established by a kingdom, principality or
barony, according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. The names and insignia of these
awards and orders must be ratified by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms. Below kingdom level, orders
may not convey Arms, unless specifically delegated by the Crown. The Crown must approve any
non-armigerous award or order before it may be recognized by the College of Heralds of a kingdom
and given a place in its Order of Precedence.
5.
Only royalty and territorial Barons and Baronesses may bestow awards. If an award is
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established for a specific branch, only the royalty or Baronage of that branch may bestow the
award, unless the power is specifically delegated in a manner consistent with Corpora and kingdom
law and custom.
C.
Membership Requirements for Receiving Awards
1.
The Board authorizes each Kingdom to determine if they require paid membership in the
Society for any of the following:
a.
receiving a Patent of Arms;
b.
receiving a Grant of Arms;
c.
receiving an Award of Arms;
d.
admission to an armigerous order.
2.
Such requirements must be written into Kingdom Law, and may not imply or state that a
person must remain a member to retain such awards or titles once given. A Kingdom which
establishes such laws must ensure that its populace is informed of these requirements, and is
responsible for their enforcement.
D.
Titles
1.
“Landedness” in the Society is an attribute of the Crown, the Coronet, and the territorial
Barons and Baronesses. Other titles within the Society do not confer land, and no form of any title
shall be taken or used which states or implies ownership or control of any geographic, demographic
or sociographic area within or external to the Society in any sense, medieval or otherwise.
2.
The Society’s standard titles are defined in (4) below. The Society recognizes that
equivalent titles from other cultures may be more appropriate for individual members. Such
alternate titles may be used by those entitled to the rank or award associated with them, provided
the College of Arms has ruled that the title in question is an equivalent for the rank or award in
question. All standard and alternate titles are specific to the Society, and convey no rank or
precedence outside it. They may be used in a Society context only by those who have achieved the
appropriate rank or award within the Society.
3.
Names and terms that imply relationships between Society members (such as apprentice,
page, squire, etc.) or that carry vocational connotations (religious, military, scholarly, etc.) may be
used in the Society on an informal basis, subject to the following restrictions: They must not assert
or imply noble rank or territorial jurisdiction. They must not be offensive in themselves or in the
context in which they are used. They may carry no precedence and must not be used in any
manner which would suggest that they do so.
4.
The titles listed here are considered standard, and may be used by those who have earned
or been granted the appropriate rank or award within the Society. The College of Arms publishes a
more extensive list of titles and alternative forms, which may also be used freely by qualified
persons. In addition, the College of Arms has full approval authority over new alternative titles,
which must be added to their list before being released for use in the Society.
RANK OR AWARD
TITLE
(masculine/feminine/collective)
King/Queen/Crown
Rulers of a kingdom
Crown Prince/Crown
Princess/(Royal) Coronet
Heirs to the Crown
Prince/Princess/Coronet
Rulers of a principality
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RANK OR AWARD
TITLE
(masculine/feminine/collective)
E.
Duke/Duchess
Persons who have reigned over a kingdom two or more times.
The title is assumed at the end of the second complete reign.
Count/Countess
Persons who have once reigned over a kingdom. The title is
assumed at the end of the first complete reign.
Viscount/Viscountess
Persons who have reigned over a principality. The title is
assumed at the end of the first complete reign.
Master/Mistress
Members of the Orders of the Laurel, the Pelican, Mastery of
Arms and Defense.
Sir/Sir
Members of the Order of Knighthood. Note that most women who
are members of the order have chosen to use ‘Sir’.
Baron (of placename)/ Baroness
(of placename)
Ceremonial heads of a barony
(Court) Baron/ (Court) Baroness
Armigerous titles awarded at the discretion of the Crown. The
word “Court” is often left out when referring to this title.
Lord/Lady
Basic titles for persons who hold Arms by Award or Grant
“my lord”/ “my lady”/ “good
gentles”
These are general forms of address rather than titles. They
are properly used informally, or any time the speaker does not
know another form that would be more appropriate for the
listener.
Master of (job name)/ Mistress of
(job name)
Alternates for ‘Minister of (job name)’. As with the standard
designation for the office, these are not personal titles, and
should in no case be abbreviated or prefixed to the officer’s
personal name.
Reservations to the Board
1.
Degradation from the Peerage
The Board reserves the right to degrade a person from the Peerage. However, kingdom law may
define conditions and procedures under which a recommendation for such action may be made to
the Board. Unless stipulated otherwise by the Board, the Board’s decision in such a case applies
only to the matter at hand. Nothing prohibits a person who has been degraded from any order of the
peerage from being elevated to the peerage at a later date, should the Crown determine that the
person in question now meets the requirements of the order to which he is being elevated.
2.
Revocation of Awards and Grants of Arms
As with Peerages, the Board specifically reserves the right to revoke any Award or Grant of Arms.
Kingdom law may make provision for offering such a recommendation to the Board.
3.
Granting and creation of new titles
The Board reserves the right to define the circumstances for which new titles of rank may be
granted and to coin any such titles either for general use or for specific individuals. A specific title
granted by the Board upon just petition is unique to each case and does not make that title valid for
any other use or person within the Society.
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IX.
SOCIETY COMBAT
A.
Society Combat-Related Activities
1.
Society combat-related activities are defined as armored combat, fencing, combat archery,
marshaling, scouting, and banner bearing in combat. Other activities clearly falling within the scope
of the above are also to be considered combat-related activities.
2.
A participant in any of the Society combat-related activities as defined above must be
authorized by a marshal warranted and designated by the Earl Marshal of a kingdom or his
representative as able to authorize individuals in the appropriate activity.
3.
Requirements for authorization for all combat-related activities are delineated in the
Marshal’s Handbook. Kingdoms may define such additional types of authorization (such as
weapons forms) as they deem necessary.
4.
Authorizations shall be registered with and kept on file by the Earl Marshal or other
designated official of each kingdom.
5.
Waivers, indemnities, or other required documents must be signed as appropriate before
training for authorization, being authorized, or participating in SCA combat or related activities.
Proof that the required document, if applicable, has been signed must be presented before an
individual may participate in the above mentioned activities. (For more detailed information on
waivers, see Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc., section IV – VI.)
6.
A Combat Authorization Card shall be issued to each authorized participant in a Society
Combat-Related Activity. This card shall be presented to the Lists Official at a Society event to
register for such activities and shall establish that the person is authorized. This card must be
shown to any marshal or lists official upon request. The Society Marshal shall establish procedures
for the notification and registration of authorizations and the issuance of the Combat Authorization
Cards.
7.
No person who has not attained his or her sixteenth (16th) birthday may be authorized in
armored combat or the marshaling of armored combat. No person who has not attained his or her
fourteenth (14th) birthday may be authorized for any form of Society combat-related activity.
8.
Prior to the authorization of a minor in any Society combat-related activity, the parent or
guardian of the minor must witness the activity, discuss it with a witnessing marshal, and execute a
waiver, indemnity, or other required document for the minor. The witnessing marshal must be
explicitly authorized to perform this function by the Earl Marshal of the kingdom. The marshal who
authorizes a minor person for any form of Society combat-related activity must be the Kingdom Earl
Marshal or the Principality Marshal or a designated deputy. This need not be the same person as
the witnessing marshal.
9.
Any minor involved in Society combat-related activities at an event must have a parent or a
properly-executed document designating some adult person present at the event as able to
authorize medical treatment for that minor in the case of any emergency.
B.
The Rules of the Lists
1.
Each fighter, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to himself or herself in such
combat, shall assume unto himself or herself all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such
combat. Other participants shall likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near
the field of combat, and shall assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.
2.
No person shall participate in Combat-Related Activities (including armored combat, fencing,
combat archery, marshalling, scouting, and banner-bearing in combat) outside of formal training
sessions unless and until he or she shall have been properly authorized under Society and kingdom
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procedures.
3.
All combatants must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign or his or her
representative.
4.
All combatants shall adhere to the appropriate Armor and Weapons Standards of the
Society, and to any additional standards of the kingdom in which the event takes place. The
Sovereign may waive the additional kingdom standards.
5.
The Sovereign or the Marshallate may bar any weapon or armor from use upon the field of
combat. Should a warranted Marshal bar any weapon or armor, an appeal may be made to the
Sovereign to allow the weapon or armor.
6.
Combatants shall behave in a knightly and chivalrous manner, and shall fight according to
the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
7.
No one may be required to participate in Combat-Related Activities. Any combatant may,
without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight in a
tournament lists is not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected
without forfeiting the bout.
8.
Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event.
This rule does not consider approved weaponry that meets the Society and kingdom standards for
traditional Society combat and/or Society rapier combat, used in the context of mutual sport, to be
real weaponry.
9.
No projectile weapons shall be allowed and no weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a
tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons for melee, war, or Combat Archery shall
conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
C.
Royal Lists
Only Chivalric (rattan) combat shall be used for formal tournament lists for royal ranks.
X.
GRIEVANCES AND SANCTIONS
A.
General
1.
While the Society is devoted to courtesy, trustworthiness, and personal responsibility,
tensions and disputes do arise.
2.
The Board is the final court of appeal for disputes that have escalated beyond the ability of
the participants or the officers to handle. However, it is reluctant to play that role because its rulings
affect the entire Society –often by restricting everyone’s freedom and reducing their enjoyment of
the organization. Corpora provides a right of appeal to the Board, but members should make every
effort to work out their disputes at as low a level in the organization as possible.
3.
While it is not possible to prescribe a specific list of things to do or people to consult that will
serve in all disputes, the general procedure outlined here should be adaptable to most of them. If
you are directly involved in a dispute, you must go through a process at least as comprehensive as
this one before asking the Board for help. If you are asked to intervene in someone else’s dispute
because of the office or title you hold, please don’t rush in. First, urge the principals to try all
measures recommended for attempting to reach a settlement without involving your level of the
organization. Then, if you do intervene, make every effort to find a resolution the participants can
accept, instead of escalating the dispute to higher levels of the organization.
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B.
Grievances
1.
Principles
a.
Be understanding. There are many valid approaches to Society activity. Members
should make room for each other to explore anything that supports the Society’s goals,
abides by its rules, is legal and does not actively interfere with the environment it attempts to
create. Communication is the key to finding common ground.
b.
Look for common ground. It may be possible to find compromise by taking up both
alternatives, either together or at different times.
c.
Keep a sense of perspective. There are always two sides to an issue. Make an effort
to listen to the arguments of the other side with good will and honesty, and look for a
solution everyone can live with.
d.
Go through the chain of command/appeal. If you can’t solve the problem yourself,
your requests for assistance should follow a line of authority without skipping anyone, and
without spreading laterally through the organization any more than absolutely necessary.
For example, when you reach a level that has royalty or royal representatives, include them
on your copy list, but don’t start out by copying all the royalty in your corner of the Known
World and the board on your initial complaint. Try to be circumspect and polite.
e.
Be patient. Allow each level time to try to deal with the situation, and avoid the
temptation to be aggressive to the people you’ve asked for help if they don’t seem to be
moving fast enough to suit you. Remember we are a volunteer society.
2.
Procedures
a.
Try to work things out face-to-face. When someone does something that interferes
with your appreciation of the Society in a way you can’t ignore, or that seems to be contrary
to the rules, talk it over. Explain the problem as you see it, and listen to the reply. (Likewise,
if someone comes to you, listen carefully before you frame your answer.) Hopefully this will
resolve the matter. If you can’t communicate, ask someone you and the other party both
respect to help, either by relaying messages or by moderating a meeting between you. Try
not to go to an officer in charge of the area in question, as such an officer may be tempted
or compelled to make a ruling instead of letting you reach an informal agreement.
b.
Write to the person you’re having difficulty with. Describe the way you feel you’re
being damaged, without insults or threats. Ask for the action you feel would set things right,
and indicate how long you feel you can wait for a reply before making further distribution of
the complaint. Do not send it to anyone else at this time. Hopefully this letter, or a series of
direct letters and replies, will eventually lead you to a solution. As long as you feel you’re
making progress either in understanding or in getting you way, do not go on to step c.
c.
Write a formal letter to the other party. Outline any new points you may have thought
of and refer to your previous correspondence. Send a copy to the officer in charge of the
area in question, or to the royalty or royal representative nearest the level where you have a
dispute. Depending on the situation, it may be a good idea to send copies of the letters
you’ve already written or received on the matter with the copy of the current letter you send
to the superior; if you are doing so, be sure to mention it in your letter. (It is very important to
proceed openly as you pursue your complaint; things are tense enough already without
adding a new–and justified–charge of sneakiness to the general dispute!) Again, set a
reasonable time for a reply, and consider it carefully when it arrives. As with step b, continue
at this level as long as it looks like there’s any progress.
d.
Write directly to the officer in charge of the area in question, with copies to the
subject of the dispute, the next higher officer, and the appropriate royalty or royal
representative, if any. Explain how you feel you’re being mistreated, and ask for specific
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help. Include the entire previous correspondence; if you have not already shared it with the
officer–and mention the enclosures in the text. Evaluate the reply or replies before you
decide to go forward.
e.
Repeat step d, moving up the organization and including everyone you’ve involved
on your copy list. Follow you correspondents’ advice as to whether or not anyone else at or
below their level needs to be consulted. Eventually, you run out of levels.
f.
If no one else has managed to find a solution, the Board will do so. However, there is
no guarantee that you will like what they come up with, and there is nowhere else to turn.
Even if you get something resembling what you originally asked for, the effect on the Society
may well be regrettable, as the Board finds it almost impossible to deal with a specific
situation without touching anything else.
g.
While it appears cumbersome, this technique should reach some sort of resolution in
a matter of months. The greatest number of levels between you and the Board is five,
assuming a dispute between members of a canton whose barony is part of a principality.
The important thing is getting a solution, NOT getting to the Board, and the approach
outlined in this article will probably let you settle the matter without involving the corporate
administration at all.
C.
Sanctions
1.
Royal Sanctions
a.
The Crown of a Kingdom may sanction subjects, residents and visitors within the
borders of the Crown’s Kingdom, for just and stated cause. Royal Sanctions take effect from
the moment of proclamation, but a notice must be announced in court and also be published
in the next available issue of the kingdom newsletter if the sanction is to remain in effect.
Within 15 business days of the imposition of the sanction, the specific cause and occasion
of the sanction must be explained in writing to the sanctioned individual.
b.
2.
For more details see the SCA Sanction Guide.
Administrative Sanctions
a.
Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their areas of authority, for just
and stated cause, only in accordance with the rules defined in their office handbooks or
specifically granted to their offices by the Governing Documents of the SCA. Only the
Society Seneschal may impose an Administrative Sanction that precludes the holding of any
office, including that of Crown.
b.
3.
For more details see the SCA Sanction Guide.
Expulsion from the SCA
a.
Expulsion precludes the individual from attendance or participation in any way,
shape or form in any SCA activity, event, practice, or official gathering for any reason, at any
time. Expulsions are temporary until the Board imposes a Revocation of Membership and
Denial of Participation (R&D). This includes a ban on participation on officially recognized
SCA social media (Facebook) sites, officially recognized SCA electronic email lists, and
officially recognized SCA webpages.
b.
4.
For more details see the SCA Sanction Guide.
Reservations to the Board of Directors
a.
Sanctions on Individuals for Actions taken as Crown
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The Board explicitly reserves to itself the discipline of individuals for actions taken while
serving as Sovereign or Consort of a kingdom. However, the Board will not consider
complaints against the Crown before the aggrieved parties have attempted to resolve their
problem directly with the Crown, and then with the appropriate kingdom and corporate
officers.
b.
Sanctions upon Individuals for Actions taken as Coronet
The Board reserves to itself the final determination regarding discipline of members for
actions taken while serving as Sovereign or Consort of a principality. However, the Coronet
remains subject to the Crown, and provisions regarding Courts of Chivalry and sanctions. If
the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and custom, the normal
recourse should be in-kingdom mediation and then a Court of Chivalry. If the Board upholds
the judgment of such a Court, the affected parties may be subject to loss of any honors and
privileges deriving from their reign, and nullification of any official acts dating back to the
incident which led to the invocation of the Court. If the Crown feels that rapid action is
essential to protect the SCA, it has the option of imposing a Proscription from Active
Participation upon the Coronet from the realm, effectively putting the principality reign into
abeyance until either conditions change within the kingdom or the Board countermands the
order. However, if the Board does not agree with the Crown’s judgment regarding the
urgency of the situation, the Board may choose to take action against the Crown as well as,
or instead of, against the Coronet.
c.
Degradation from the Peerage
The Board reserves the right to degrade a person from the Peerage. However, kingdom law
may define conditions and procedures under which a recommendation for such action may
be made to the Board. Unless stipulated otherwise by the Board, the Board’s decision in
such a case applies only to the matter at hand. Nothing prohibits a person who has been
degraded from any order of the peerage from being elevated to the peerage at a later date,
should the Crown determine that the person in question now meets the requirements of the
order to which he is being elevated.
d.
Revocation of Awards of Arms and Grants of Arms
As with Peerages, the Board specifically reserves the right to revoke any Award of Arms or
Grant of Arms. Kingdom law may make provisions for offering such a recommendation to
the Board.
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APPENDIX B: STANDARD WARRANT FORMS
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WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO EXECUTIVE OFFICE
LEGAL NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: (HOME)
(OTHER)
EMAIL ADDRESS:
MEMBER NUMBER:
SCA REFERENCE NAME:
Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of
[ ] President [ ] Vice-President for ___________ [ ] Local President (Seneschal) [ ] Other____________
FOR BRANCH:
EFFECTIVE AS OF:
AND EXPIRING AS OF:
with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and responsibilities appertaining to the office while the
Warrant is effective. This executive is specifically empowered to do business as a legal representative for
the above-referenced branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., including but not limited to
making contracts involving the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. This Warrant supersedes any
existing or previous Warrant for this office.
PRINT:
PRINT:
SIGN:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
OFFICE:
DATE:
DATE:
PRINT:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
DATE:
Required signatures:
President: 3 members of the SCA Board of Directors.
Vice President for Operations (Society Seneschal):
three Board members.
Regional Vice President (Kingdom Seneschal): Society
Seneschal and the current Crown. Regional Vice President
(Principality Seneschal):
Crown or Coronet and the Kingdom Seneschal. Local President
(Seneschal): Kingdom Seneschal or
Principality Seneschal and the current Crown.
This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.
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WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO FINANCIAL OFFICE
LEGAL NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: (HOME)
(OTHER)
EMAIL ADDRESS:
MEMBER NUMBER:
SCA REFERENCE NAME:
Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of
[ ] Treasurer [ ] Vice Treasurer for ____________ [ ] Local Treasurer (Exchequer/Reeve) [ ] Other______
FOR BRANCH:
EFFECTIVE AS OF:
AND EXPIRING AS OF:
with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and responsibilities appertaining to the office while the
Warrant is effective. This treasurer is specifically empowered to do business as a financial representative for
the above-referenced branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., including but not limited to
managing financial transactions with financial institutions. This Warrant supersedes any existing or previous
Warrant for this office.
PRINT:
PRINT:
SIGN:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
OFFICE:
DATE:
DATE:
PRINT:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
DATE:
Required signatures:
Treasurer: three members of the SCA Board of Directors.
Vice Treasurer (Society Exchequer): three Board members.
Vice Treasurer (Kingdom Exchequer): Society Exchequer and current
Crown.
Vice Treasurer (Principality Exchequer): Kingdom
Exchequer and the current Crown or Coronet.
Local Treasurer (Exchequer/Reeve): Kingdom
Exchequer or Principality Exchequer and the current
Crown.
This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.
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WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE
LEGAL NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: (HOME) (OTHER) MEMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS:
NUMBER:
SCA REFERENCE NAME:
Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of [
[
] Herald [
] Chronicler [
] A&S Officer
] Marshal [ ] Other ___________ FOR BRANCH: ______________________
EFFECTIVE AS OF: AND EXPIRING AS OF:
with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and
responsibilities thereto appertaining the office while the Warrant is effective. This Warrant supersedes any
existing or previous Warrant for this office.
PRINT:
PRINT:
SIGN:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
OFFICE:
DATE:
DATE:
PRINT:
SIGN:
OFFICE:
DATE:
Required signatures: Corporate and Society Officers: three members of the
SCA Board of Directors.
Deputy Corporate/Society officers: two Board members and the appropriate
Corporate/Society officer.
Kingdom Officers with Corporate Superiors: Crown and the appropriate
Corporate Officer.
Other Great Officers and Lesser Officers: Crown or Coronet and the
appropriate kingdom or principality officer, if any.
Other officers: as established by Kingdom Law and custom, but must include
more than one signature, and must include royalty.
This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.
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THE BY-LAWS OF
THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.
I.
NAME
The name of this corporation shall be the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., herein referred to as the
‘SCA’.
II.
OFFICES
The principal office of the SCA shall be located in the State of California. The SCA may have other offices
as the Board of Directors may determine or as the affairs of the SCA may require from time to time.
III.
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
The SCA shall be dedicated primarily to the promotion of research and re-creation in the field of pre17thcentury Western culture, as stated in greater detail in Article II of the SCA’s Articles of Incorporation.
IV.
DEDICATION OF ASSETS
The properties and assets of the SCA are irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes. No part of the net
earnings, properties, or assets of this corporation, on dissolution or otherwise, shall inure to the benefit of
any private person or individual, or any member, Director or officer of the SCA. On liquidation or
dissolution, all properties and assets and obligations shall be distributed and paid over to an organization
dedicated to charitable purposes which has established its tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue
Service Code Section 501(c)(3).
V.
MEMBERS
A.
Statutory Members
The SCA is a public benefit corporation and shall not have any members within the meaning of Section
5056 of the California Corporations Code. It is not a mutual benefit nonprofit corporation permitting
distributions to members.
B.
Nonstatutory Members
The Board of Directors may designate categories of advisory membership. These will be detailed
elsewhere in the Governing Documents of the SCA, Inc. Such advisory members are not members within
the meaning of Section 5056 of the California Corporations Code.
C.
General Conditions and Privileges Of Membership
1.
Access to Membership
Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual, without restriction of age or citizenship.
Memberships are not transferable or assignable. Membership can be terminated only by: (1) lapse
following nonpayment of dues, or (2) action of the Board of Directors in accordance with the rules for
Revocation and Denial of Membership as defined in the Corporate Policies of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc., II.D. (Revocation/Denial of Membership).
2.
Privileges of Members
a. General Privileges of Members and Non-members.
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Every member of the SCA is eligible for office and advancement within the SCA, subject to the
requirements for such office or such advancement, and to the provisions established above.
However, while a group or institution may obtain a membership in order to obtain the newsletters
and/or increase its support of the SCA, such membership does not convey the privileges of
membership to persons associated with that group or institution. Employment by the SCA as staff,
as a contractual agent of the SCA, or as a paid consultant to the SCA does not require membership
in the SCA.
b. Eligibility for Office.
Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members and must have immediate access to the
corporate newsletter for their area provided by a subscribing membership at their residence.
(Alternate access arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis for people with post office
boxes and for International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as
successors to officers subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties.
Deputies who only assist with specific tasks are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.
3.
Revocation/Denial of Membership
Membership in the SCA may be revoked and/or denied as provided in Paragraph C.1 of this Article for the
following reasons:
a.
conviction of violation of civil or criminal law
b.
actions that endanger the SCA;
c.
violation of the By-Laws or Corpora of the SCA;
d.
formal recommendation arising out of procedures for the purpose defined in Corpora for the
medieval structure of the SCA.
4.
Reservations to the Board
The Board shall have the sole authority to define the classes of membership and to establish and revise a
schedule of dues. No dues may be set by any branch of the SCA. However, fees for admission to events
other than regular business meetings of branches of the SCA shall not be considered dues.
VI.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A.
Powers
Subject to the provisions of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law, the activities and affairs of the SCA
shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors, herein referred to as the Board. The Board may delegate management of the day-to-day
operation of the business of the SCA provided that the activities and affairs of the SCA shall be managed
and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board subject to the
limitations in the Articles of Incorporation.
B.
Number of Directors
The authorized number of Directors of the SCA shall not be less than five (5) or more than seven (7) until
changed by amendment of this Article of the By-Laws.
C.
Qualifications of Directors
Each Director shall be a natural person at least 21 years of age, and shall be qualified for independent
office under V.C.2.a. of these By-Laws.
It is the intent of the SCA that the composition of the Board shall represent a diversity of skills and
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experience, to enable the Board to make informed, well-balanced decisions on the SCA’s activities.
D.
Restriction on Interested Directors
1.
No Director may hold any office defined by the Governing Documents to be incompatible with active
service on the Board. Any Director planning to take such an office must resign from the Board immediately
upon committing to taking the office.
2.
In addition, not more than forty-nine percent (49%) of the Directors may be ‘interested persons’,
defined as:
a.
any person compensated by the corporation for services rendered to it within the previous
twelve (12) months, whether as a full-time or part-time employee, independent contractor, or
otherwise, excluding any reasonable compensation paid to a Director as a Director; and
b.
any relative by blood or marriage of any such person. However, any violation of the
provisions of this section shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any transaction entered into
by the corporation.
E.
Election and Term
Directors are elected by the unanimous vote of the Board.
1.
Probationary Period
Each Director shall be appointed for an initial trial period, commencing as of the date said Director
assumes his position, and concluding with determination of confirmation by the remaining Directors. This
confirmation shall occur within four (4) months of the end of the second regularly scheduled quarterly
meeting of the Board of Directors following the date said Director assumes his position. If the Director is not
confirmed, the remaining Directors shall appoint someone else to the Board to finish the assigned term, in
which case the new Director is subject to the same initial trial period and confirmation vote as provided for
in this section.
2.
Term of Service
Directors’ terms shall be staggered so that one term ends each six months. Under ordinary circumstances,
Directors shall serve fourteen quarters, dating from the meetings at which they are elected. A Director’s
term begins immediately upon election and acceptance. A Director whose term is expiring may, under
extraordinary circumstances, be retained for up to two additional quarters. Such extensions may only be
made by unanimous vote of the other Directors. The Director affected must abstain from voting, but may
decline to serve. The Board Minutes must describe the circumstances requiring the extension. The
extension shall be considered part of the next full term, and a new Director shall be chosen fill the
remainder of that term. During the period between acceptance and his or her first meeting, a Director shall
receive information routinely distributed to the Board, and shall be bound by its policies regarding the
behavior of Directors. Former Directors of the SCA may not be reelected to the Board until a period of at
least one (1) year has elapsed after their departure from the Board.
3.
Resignation
Should a Director be unable to serve his or her full term, the remaining Directors shall either leave the
position vacant until the end of the term, or elect someone to fill the remainder of the term. Failure to attend
the last meeting of a term or extension for any reason shall be considered equivalent to resignation at the
beginning of that meeting, unless (in the case of a normal term) prior arrangements for an extension were
made by the Board and voted in at the current meeting. As specified in VI.B, the number of active Directors
may not be allowed to go below 5, except during a meeting affected by an automatic resignation resulting
from this paragraph.
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F.
Vacancies and Removal
Directors remain on the Board until expiration of their term of service, resignation, or removal. By a majority
vote, the Board may remove any Director without cause at any regular or special meeting, provided that the
Director to be removed has been notified in writing that such action would be considered at that meeting.
1.
Dismissal of a Director
a.
Impeachment
A Director can be impeached by a letter signed by three (3) Directors, or by a petition signed by a
majority of the Corporate Officers or 1,000 of the current advisory members. Additional procedures
for petitions of impeachment arising out of the medieval structure of the SCA are defined in
Corpora.
b.
Removal
The removal of a Director shall be considered by the Board at its next regular meeting after an
impeachment is filed, or at a special election meeting called as provided in VI.I, except that there
must be at least ten (10) days’ notice in writing to all Directors. If the next regular meeting is more
than forty-five (45) days from the time of receipt of a petition of impeachment, a special election
meeting shall be called.
2.
Filling Vacancies
All vacancies may be filled by unanimous vote of the Directors then in office, whether or not their numbers
constitute a quorum.
3.
Leave of Absence
A Director may take leave of absence from the Board with the concurrence of the remaining Directors.
Such leave of absence shall not extend the absentee’s term of service on the Board. An interim
replacement may be appointed by the Board with the concurrence of the Director taking the leave for the
duration of a leave of absence. An interim Director must meet the requirements for a regular term on the
Board, and shall have the same voting rights as a regular Director.
G.
Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone
Regular or special meetings of the Board may be held at any place within or outside the State of California
that has been designated from time to time by the Board. In the absence of such designation, meetings
shall be held at the principal executive office of the SCA.
Notwithstanding the above provisions of this Section, a regular or special meeting of the Board may be
held at any place consented to in writing by all the Board members, either before or after the meeting. If
consents are given, they shall be filed with the Minutes of the meeting. Any meeting may be held by
conference telephone or similar communications equipment, as long as all Directors participating in the
meeting can hear one another, and all such Directors shall be deemed to be present in person at such
meeting.
H.
Regular Quarterly Meetings
The Board shall hold a regular meeting in each calendar quarter, for the purpose of appointing Directors
and officers of the SCA, and for the transaction of other business. These meetings are open to any
advisory member of the SCA. Notice of these quarterly meetings shall be given via publication in the
Minutes of the previous meeting.
I.
Special Meetings
1.
Special meetings of the Board may be called for any purpose at any time by the Chairman of the
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Board, or by any two other Directors.
2.
Written notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally to each
Director or communicated to each Director by telephone, electronic mail, or first-class mail, addressed to
the Director at the Director’s address as it is shown upon the records of the SCA. In case such notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least ten (10) days prior to the time of the holding
of the meeting. In case such notice is delivered personally or by telephone, or electronic mail, it shall be so
delivered at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such mailing or
delivery shall be due, legal and personal notice to each Director.
3.
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Director who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to
holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes of the meeting, whether before or after the meeting, or
who attends the meeting without protesting, prior to the meeting or at its commencement, the lack of notice
to such Director. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or
made part of the Minutes of the meeting.
J.
Action at a Meeting; Quorum and Required Vote
An act of the Board consists of an affirmative decision by a majority of the maximum authorized number of
Directors, except as otherwise provided for in the By-Laws. A quorum shall be a majority of the maximum
authorized number of Directors.
K.
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board
The post of Chairman shall be held for such period as the Board shall from time to time determine. No
member shall be required to serve as Chairman. If the Chairman is not present or may not serve as
Chairman for any reason, the Vice-Chairman shall act as Chairman. Both the Chairman and the ViceChairman shall be selected by unanimous consent of the Board.
L.
Committees
The Board may designate one or more committees to serve at the pleasure of the Board. These
committees shall serve as advisory bodies, and shall not exercise the authority or power of the Board.
M.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Directors and members of committees may receive such reasonable reimbursement for expenses as may
be determined by the Board.
VII.
ADMINISTRATION
A.
Officers
1.
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Vice President for Operations, a Vice
President for Corporate Operations, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such others as the Board may from time
to time designate. The office of President may be held by the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
2.
Officers of the corporation are elected by a unanimous save one vote of the Board, and shall hold
office until their term of service is over, they resign, or they are removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board.
The term of service shall be as agreed upon between the officer and the Board. It may be limited or open.
B.
Corporate Office
The SCA shall maintain a business office to carry out regular administrative work of the SCA. Where
overall benefit to the SCA will result, portions of the duties assigned to any officer described or referenced
in Paragraphs VII.A.2-4 may be transferred to this office, and such duties as are not explicitly assigned to
other officers may be assigned to and performed by this office.
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C.
Compensation
The salary and other compensation of other officers shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of or in
the manner determined by the Board.
VIII. CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND FUNDS
A.
Execution of Corporate Instruments
The Board may, at its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers or
other person or persons, to execute any corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name
without limitation, except when otherwise provided by law, and such execution or signature shall be binding
upon the SCA. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board or otherwise required by law, formal
contracts and other corporate instruments and documents shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the
Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President and by the Secretary or Treasurer.
B.
Checks, Drafts, Etc.
All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositories of funds to the credit of the corporation, or on
special accounts of the SCA, shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board shall authorize to do
so.
C.
Gifts
The Board may accept on behalf of the SCA any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general
purposes of or for any special purpose of the SCA not inconsistent with the charitable limitations in the
Articles of Incorporation.
IX.
INDEMNIFICATION
1.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the SCA may indemnify its Directors, officers, employees,
and other persons described in Section 5238(a) of the California Corporations Code including persons
formerly occupying any such position, against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other
amounts actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any “proceeding,” as that term is
used in said section 5238(a), and including an action by or in the right of the SCA, by reason of the fact that
the person is or was a person described in that Section. “Expenses” shall have the same meaning as in
said Section.
2.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and except as otherwise determined by the Board in a specific
instance, expenses incurred by a person seeking indemnification in defending any “proceeding” may be
advanced by the SCA before final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the SCA of a contract from
that person to repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined that the person is entitled to be
indemnified by the SCA for those expenses.
3.
The SCA shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance to the full extent permitted by law
on behalf of its officers, directors, employees and other agents, against any liability asserted against or
incurred by such persons in such capacity or arising out of the person’s status as such.
X.
BOOKS AND RECORDS
The SCA shall keep correct and complete books of account and records and shall also keep Minutes of the
proceedings of the meetings of its Board, and shall keep in the Corporate Office a record giving the names
and addresses of the persons described in Article V, which record shall not be copied or viewed by any
person, except with the prior written permission of the Board. The books of account may be inspected by
any member or member’s agent, for any reasonable purpose at any reasonable time.
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XI.
FISCAL YEAR
The Fiscal Year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of
December in each year.
XII.
AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS
1.
These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new By-Laws may be adopted by the
unanimous consent of the Board. Such amendments and alterations must be made in writing, and must
immediately be placed in the records of the SCA, and appended to copies of the By-Laws available to the
membership.
2.
Under normal circumstances, the Board will publicize proposed changes to the By-Laws in sufficient
time to allow comment from the membership before making a final determination.
3.
The Board of Directors shall give a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days’ notice to Kingdom
Administration of the effective date of changes made to the By-Laws. This notice shall be in written form
and the sixty days shall count from the date of mailing. In case of an emergency, less notice may be given,
such notice to be no less than thirty (30) days before the implementation date for such changes. In all
cases where less than sixty days’ notice was given, the notice shall be accompanied by a letter of
explanation of the emergency prompting the change.
XIII. DEFINITION OF STRUCTURE
A.
The Corpora
The Board shall establish and maintain a document defining the structure of the medieval organization
used by the SCA in its re-creations, and including minimum requirements and guidelines for that
organization. This document is referred to as the Corpora of the SCA. The Corpora may be altered,
amended or repealed in part or in whole by a two-thirds vote of the Board. Such amendments and
alterations must be made in writing and must immediately be placed in the records of the SCA, and
appended to copies of the Corpora available to the membership.
B.
Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc.
The Board shall establish and maintain a document defining policies applying to the SCA. This document is
referred to as the Corporate Policies of the SCA, Inc. The Corporate Policies may be altered, amended or
repealed in part or in whole by a two-thirds vote of the Board. Such amendments and alterations must be
made in writing and must immediately be placed in the records of the SCA, and appended to copies of the
Corporate Policies available to the membership.
XIV. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Business meetings of the Board shall in general be held according to the procedures defined in the latest
edition of The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure by Alice Sturgis except where specified
differently by these By-Laws.
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THE CORPORATE POLICIES
OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.
I. MEMBERSHIP TYPES
Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual. Membership takes effect when the Corporate
Office receives a prospective member’s application. Positive confirmation of membership consists of:
•
a valid membership card;
•
appearance of the name with a valid membership on a printout from the Corporate Office;
•
a membership label issued by the Corporate Office showing the name and expiration date;
•
a postcard or letter from the Corporate Office confirming that the membership has been received.
A. Statutory Members
The SCA is a public benefit corporation and shall not have any members within the meaning of Section
5056 of the California Corporations Code. It is not a mutual benefit nonprofit corporation permitting
distributions to members.
B. Non-Statutory Members
The Board of Directors has designated the following categories of advisory membership. Such advisory
members are not members within the meaning of Section 5056 of the California Corporations Code.
California law supports the SCA’s use of the terms “member” and “membership” in the common English
meaning, referring to persons who have paid to be associated with the organization.
1. Sustaining Membership conveys eligibility to hold office in the SCA, a subscription to a Kingdom
newsletter, the option to subscribe to other Corporate publications, and any other privileges
designated by the SCA or its subdivisions as accruing to members of the SCA. This type of
membership is considered a subscribing membership.
2. International Membership conveys the privileges of Section I.B.1. This membership type is
available only in locations outside the United States which are part of the SCA, Inc., and not
subject to an affiliate corporation. This type of membership is considered a subscribing
membership.
3. Associate Membership conveys eligibility to hold office in the SCA, except where other
membership categories are required Governing Documents. Associate membership also entitles
the holder to any privileges designated by the SCA or its subdivisions as accruing to members of
the SCA, except where another membership type is specifically required by the organization
defining the privilege. This type of membership is not considered a subscribing membership.
4. Family Membership extends the privileges of Section I.B.1 to the immediate family of a member
defined in paragraphs B.1-B.2 of this Article, who live at the same physical address as the
member. This type of membership is not considered a subscribing membership.
5. Institutional Membership allows a library or school to subscribe to Tournaments Illuminated and
The Compleat Anachronist without acquiring the regional newsletter, and without any of the other
privileges of membership. The Board reserves the right to determine whether or not a given
organization qualifies for this membership type.
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II. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
A. Access to Membership
Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual, without restriction of age or citizenship.
Membership can be terminated only by:
1.
lapse following nonpayment of dues, or
2.
action of the Board of Directors.
Memberships are not transferable or assignable.
B. Privileges of Members
Every natural person holding membership in the SCA is eligible for office and advancement within the SCA,
subject to the requirements for such office or advancement, and to the provisions established above. A
group or institution may obtain a membership of the types listed in V.B.1-3 in order to obtain the
newsletters and/or increase its support of the SCA; such membership does not convey the privileges of
membership to any individual associated with that group or institution.
C. Eligibility for Office
Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members as defined in I.B.1-4 above, and must have immediate
access to the corporate newsletter for their area provided by a subscribing membership at their residence.
(Alternate access arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis for people with post office boxes
and for International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as successors to officers
subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties. Deputies who only assist with
specific tasks are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.
1. No Director may hold any Crown, Principality Coronet, or Great Office of State of a kingdom or
principality while serving on the Board.
2. Minors as officers
a. Minors fifteen (15) years of age or over may serve as officers, save the office of group marshal,
only with the express written approval of their parent or legal guardian and their kingdom
superior, who must first be notified of the age of the minor.
b. Minors under fifteen (15) years of age may not serve as officers.
c. Minors may not serve as group marshals, or as marshal in charge.
D. Revocation/Denial of Membership
Membership in the SCA may be revoked for the following reasons:
•
Conviction of violation of civil or criminal law.
•
Actions that endanger the SCA.
•
Violation of the Governing Documents or other rules of the SCA.
•
Formal recommendation arising from procedures defined in Corpora.
Membership in the SCA may be denied for the same reasons as for revocation. Membership may also be
denied if the reasons for a previous revocation of membership are still considered valid by the Board.
The Board will consider a request for revocation or denial of membership in the SCA under any of the
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following circumstances:
•
Petition to the Board by 30% or more of the membership of the kingdom of residence of the person
being considered for such revocation or denial who are currently members of the SCA.
•
Petition by a majority of the kingdom Great Officers and peers of the kingdom of residence who are
currently members of the SCA.
•
The recommendation of a duly-constituted kingdom court of chivalry.
•
Documentation of cause for absolute banishment.
A revocation or denial of membership by the Board enforces exclusion from all SCA functions in all SCA
kingdoms.
1. Grounds
Membership in the SCA may be revoked and/or denied for the following reasons:
•
Actions that endanger public health and safety, or disturb the peace of an SCA activity in a manner
which would make it reasonable for the modern authorities to be called in for assistance.
•
Actions in the course of performing official duties on behalf of the SCA which would make it
reasonable for the modern authorities to be called in for assistance.
•
Actions that endanger the SCA.
•
Violation of the Governing Documents or other rules of the SCA.
•
Conviction of violation of civil or criminal law.
Membership may also be denied if the reasons for a previous revocation of membership are still
considered valid by the Board.
2. Board Consideration
The Board will consider a request for revocation or denial of membership in the SCA under any of the
following circumstances:
•
Petition to the Board by 30% or more of the membership of the kingdom of residence of the person
being considered for such revocation or denial who are currently members of the SCA.
•
Petition by a majority of the kingdom great officers and peers of the kingdom of residence who are
currently members of the SCA.
•
The recommendation of a duly-constituted kingdom court of chivalry.
•
Documentation of cause for absolute banishment.
3. Notification
Upon receipt of a request for Board action affecting membership, the Board shall notify the person(s) in
question of when the matter will be considered and invite all relevant documentation and appeals.
Due to the serious nature of these proceedings the Board may elect to temporarily prohibit a person’s
participation in Society functions until a decision on revocation and denial of membership has been
reached. In such a case, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to expedite these proceedings and
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prevent unnecessary delay.
4. Appeal
A revocation or denial of membership may be appealed, but such appeal must be accompanied by new
evidence that warrants re-examination by the Board. At the conclusion of the imposed term of revocation or
denial, or if an appeal as provided above is accepted by the Board, exclusion from SCA events shall be
lifted, and the individual shall be allowed to (re)apply for membership in the SCA, unless membership is
again denied.
E. Notification
Upon receipt of a request for Board action affecting membership, the Board shall notify the person(s) in
question of when the matter will be considered and invite all relevant documentation and appeals. The
Board will discuss and decide such a petition in accordance with its rules.
Regardless of how the process is initiated, a revocation or denial of membership by the Board enforces
exclusion from all SCA events in all SCA kingdoms. Such a revocation or denial of membership may be
appealed, but such appeal must be accompanied by new evidence that warrants re-examination by the
Board. At the conclusion of the imposed term of revocation or denial, or if an appeal as provided above is
accepted by the Board, exclusion from SCA events shall be lifted, and the individual allowed to (re)apply
for membership in the SCA, unless membership is again denied.
F. Reservation by the Board
The Board shall have the sole authority to define the classes of membership and establish and revise a
schedule of dues. No dues may be set by any branch of the SCA. However, fees for admission to events
other than regular business meetings of branches of the SCA shall not be considered dues.
III. ADMINISTRATION
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Vice President for Operations, a Vice
President for Corporate Operations, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such others as the Board may from time
to time designate. The office of President may be held by the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Officers of the corporation are elected and serve as described in the By-Laws.
A. President
The President is the principal spokesperson for the SCA. The President may sign and authorize such
instruments as he or she deems appropriate to the conduct of the SCA’s proper business, and may
delegate similar responsibilities. In the event of absence or incapacity of the President, the duties shall be
apportioned at the discretion of the Board.
B. Vice President for Operations
The Vice President for Operations shall manage the administration of the SCA‘s historical re-creations
through a network of Regional Vice Presidents, known as Kingdom Seneschals. The Vice President for
Operations is authorized by the Board to sign instruments required for the conduct of the SCA’s historical
recreations, and may delegate similar responsibilities. This officer also serves as Society Seneschal. The
duties of this position are further defined in Corpora.
C. Vice President for Corporate Operations
The Vice President for Corporate Operations shall be responsible for maintaining the membership files of
the SCA; for processing membership applications and depositing membership monies as instructed by the
Treasurer; and for preparing mailing lists for publications of the corporation. The Vice President for
Corporate Operations is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Office, and will supervise
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any office staff. The Vice President of Corporate Operations shall be financially responsible for all
membership monies to the Treasurer.
D. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for the regular administrative duties of the Board and the corporation,
including correspondence, Minutes of all meetings of the Board, and such other administrative duties as
shall be assigned by the Board or the President. The Secretary shall maintain all necessary records of the
corporation not maintained by other officers or offices. The Secretary shall be responsible to the President
and the Board for the regular performance of the administrative duties of the corporation.
E. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct
accounts of the properties and business transactions of the SCA, including accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings, and other matters customarily included in
financial statements.
The Treasurer shall deposit (or cause to be deposited) all monies and other valuables in the name of and
to the credit of the SCA with all such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall
disburse (or cause to be disbursed) the funds of the SCA as may be ordered by the Board, shall render to
the Board, whenever they request it, an account of all the Treasurer’s transactions as Treasurer and of the
financial condition of the SCA, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Board or these By-Laws.
The Treasurer shall supervise a person known as the Exchequer holding a separate position within the
structure of the Society‘s historical re-creation. The title and duties of this position are defined in Corpora.
F. Other Offices
The Board may designate other offices as necessary.
IV. WAIVERS – GENERAL
A. The General Membership waiver shall be incorporated into the Membership Application form, to be
filled out by the prospective or renewing member at the time the membership application form is filled
out. This Waiver covers attendance and participation at Society events.
B. A membership card (“blue card”) with a condensed form of the waiver text printed on the back shall be
provided to members who have executed the general waiver as part of becoming members or renewing
their memberships.
C. Members who have not executed the general waiver as a part of becoming members or renewing their
memberships shall be issued a different colored membership card and shall be subject to the
provisions contained in the General Waiver Policy as if they were not members of the SCA, Inc.
D. Non-members, and members who have not brought their blue membership cards, are required to
comply with the waiver signing provisions contained in the General Waiver Policy or they shall be
denied admittance to SCA sponsored activities coming within the purview of said Waiver Policy.
V. WAIVERS - COMBAT
A. Waivers for SCA Combat-Related Activities
Waivers are required for participation in SCA combat and related activities. The SCA General Membership
waiver adopted July 1995 is the text required for use in the United States. Alternative texts may be
approved by the Board for use in other countries. Proof of waiver will be established as follows:
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1. To be authorized, or to engage as an authorized participant in SCA combat or related activities, a
person must present a current valid membership card indicating that the appropriate waiver is on
file with the SCA, Inc. or they must sign a waiver with the same text and comply with all the
provisions of that policy.
2. To train for authorization at SCA-sponsored practice sessions, a person must either present a
current valid membership card indicating that the appropriate waiver is on file with the SCA, Inc. or
they must sign a waiver with the same text and comply with all the provisions of that policy.
3. Prior to the training of a minor in any SCA combat-related activity, the parent or guardian of the
minor must witness the activity, discuss it with a witnessing marshal, and execute a Waiver for the
minor. The witnessing marshal must be explicitly authorized to perform this function by the Earl
Marshal of the kingdom. The marshal who authorizes a minor person for any form of SCA combatrelated activity must be the Kingdom Earl Marshal or the Principality Marshal. This need not be the
same person as the witnessing marshal.
B. Medical Authorization for Minors:
Any minor involved in SCA combat-related activities at an event must have a parent or properly-executed
Medical Authorization Form for Minors designating some adult person present at the event as able to
authorize medical treatment for that minor in the case of any emergency.
VI. WAIVERS - PROCEDURES
1. Anyone attending any event sponsored by a branch of the SCA Inc. who is not able to present a
valid SCA Inc. waiver card must execute a waiver as follows:
a. All US Branches: must execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of Directors at each
such event, practice or function
b. All non-US Branches
i. must execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of Directors at each such
event, practice or function, or
ii. must use a country-specific waiver that has been approved by the US Board of
Directors, or
iii. must submit to the US Board of Directors a letter of legal opinion stating that the waiver
requirement is not necessary in that particular country.
2. The text of all waivers must be the language approved by the Board of Directors for waiver usage,
subject to individual modern jurisdictional requirements. Such alternative texts must be approved
by the Board of Directors prior to usage. Roster style waivers are acceptable providing that the full
text of the waiver language is included.
3. An event, for the purposes of this section only, is defined as any recreation function announced in
the branch, Kingdom, or Principality newsletter. Business meetings, demos, guild meetings, dance
practices, or planning sessions are specifically excluded from these provisions. Combat or Fighter
practices are not excluded and waivers must be collected from those actively participating in the
combat related activities at such practices.
4. Any function at which combat related activities will occur fall under the auspices of this waiver
policy, regardless of what other activities may be occurring at the function. If there is a doubt about
whether a specific function falls under this policy, the Kingdom Seneschal is directly empowered by
the Board to make that determination and report same in their next regularly scheduled report.
5. The local Seneschal, or other officer in charge of any function at which waivers will be required, is
responsible for ensuring that a copy of that Kingdom‘s Law and the current Organizational
Handbook are available at that function.
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6. Each Kingdom shall have a single responsible officer ("Waiver Secretary") as a deputy to the
Kingdom Seneschal to ensure that all required waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets are collected
and safely stored within a reasonable time after each event. The Waiver Secretary shall ensure
that waivers for each event can be located and provided to the appropriate officials in the event a
specific waiver is required.
7. Each Kingdom shall store all original executed waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets, or legally
accepted facsimiles, in such a manner that a responsible party can easily retrieve any needed
waiver.
Local groups need not maintain copies of these records. Kingdoms shall maintain the adult waivers for
seven years and the minor waivers for 20 years.
VII. POLICY ON FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REDRESS
It is the policy of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. to vigorously pursue legal action and redress
on the part of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and its members in any case of financial
malfeasance or misfeasance involving SCA funds.
VIII. POLICY ON ALCOHOL
Manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages by the SCA or its branches
or subdivisions is prohibited within the United States and its territories.
The use of any SCA funds for the purchase of potable alcohol, except for such quantities as may be
necessary for cooking, is prohibited in the United States and its territories.
Officers are not prohibited from serving alcohol; however, it must be done as individuals, and not as part of
their official duties as officers.
Officers are not prohibited from giving gifts of alcohol; however, it must be done as individuals, and not as
part of their official duties as officers. Giving or receiving gifts of alcohol in court is not considered to be part
of an officer’s official duties.
IX. POLICY ON FIRST AID AT EVENTS OR SCA ACTIVITIES
While organized first aid services are desirable at events, the Society and its branches may not be placed
in the position of promising to provide these services. Therefore, while branches are encouraged to have
qualified volunteer first aid personnel available, they are specifically prohibited from requiring the presence
of a medical or first aid officer at events, and from in any way implying that the Society’s sponsorship of an
event depends upon the presence of organized first aid services.
There shall be no ownership or possession by any branch or recognized guild of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc. of the following Medical Equipment: Automated External Defibrillators (AED).
X. POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. Electronic Publication of SCA Documents
When official corporate documents are published electronically on a site not sponsored by the SCA, Inc.,
the original copyright notice for the document must be provided along with the text. The following addition
should be made to the copyright notice:
"In cases of conflict, the governing version of this document is (title of document), copyright (date) by the
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and obtainable in printed form from the SCA Stock Clerk, P.O. Box
360789, Milpitas CA 95036. Disputes over the contents of this document will be decided in favor of the
printed version available from the SCA, Inc."
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B. Participation of SCA Officials in Electronic Communications Media
1. Unless otherwise stated as a prerequisite of office, electronic communication is not required of any
officer. Traditional paper correspondence is always acceptable, and is the default means for official
correspondence.
2. The SCA, Inc. neither prohibits nor requires members' or officers' participation in electronic
communications media such as newsgroups or mailing lists.
C. Electronic Communications to and from SCA Officers
1. Electronic communications to SCA officers may be regarded as formal communications only if
approved in advance by the officer, or if a non-automated confirmation of receipt is obtained.
2. Messages posted for general attention on any public electronic communications forum are not
regarded as formal communications to an officer, whether or not that officer is known to participate
on the forum in question. Communications posted by corporate or kingdom officers to their officerspecific forums may be considered official communications to those officers subscribed to the
forum only upon return of a non-automated confirmation of receipt.
3. Any policies or procedures governing the handling of correspondence, such as maintenance of file
copies for correspondence with lasting effect, apply equally to electronic mail. Officers must ensure
that any electronic files are passed on in a format readable by their successor.
4. SCA officers must distinguish between their personal opinions and official statements or policies of
their office in electronic communications.
XI. POLICY ON COINAGE AND CURRENCY
While the SCA, Inc. supports and encourages the study of period numismatics, it is not the policy of the
SCA, Inc. to endorse or require the acceptance of privately minted coinage or other tokens at SCAsanctioned events. The SCA, Inc. or its branches shall not require the acceptance of privately minted
coinage or other tokens as payment for any goods or services at any SCA-sanctioned events. Any such
transactions may be conducted at the discretion of the individuals involved, as with any other barter
transaction. In such cases, compliance with applicable tax laws is the responsibility of the individuals.
XII. POLICY ON SERVICE MARKS
The names (group and award/order) and armory (devices and badges) registered by Laurel to the SCA or
to branches are to be considered service marks of the SCA. This recognition is to formally recognize these
marks and our use of them to the purpose the US Patent and Trademark Office terms “collective marks.”
XIII. POLICY ON ACCESSIBILITY TO SOCIETY FUNCTIONS
The SCA, Inc. will not discriminate against any member or participant on the basis of race, sex, religion,
national origin, age or disability. The SCA, Inc. will comply with all laws of the nation in which the meeting
or event is held. For any meeting or event held in the United States, the SCA, Inc. will comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The SCA, Inc. will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified
individuals with disabilities to enable all participants to fully enjoy the events whenever it is possible to do
so. The SCA, Inc. will at all times attempt to provide reasonable accommodations, while preserving the
fundamental nature of the SCA event.
XIV. POLICY ON LAND USE / REAL ESTATE
Funds may be designated to the purchase or improvement of real estate by branches, provided that the
source, maintenance, and purpose of any such fund are clearly designated within the branch's financial
policy.
No representative of the SCA may financially obligate the SCA to the purchase or substantial improvement
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of real estate without prior approval of the Board of Directors. An improvement will be considered
substantial if:
a. It requires a building permit or other clearance from the local government;
b. It increases the fair market value of the property; or
c. It is constructed in a manner that makes its portability to another site questionable or not feasible.
A separate incorporation for the purpose of holding real estate may be required by the Board of Directors.
XV. TRANSLATION OF CORPORATE DOCUMENTS
The following clause will be placed in all documents published by the Society for Creative Anachronism,
Inc. or any of its branches that are translated into a language other than English and contain rules or
policies of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. or that branch.
The approved English language version of any Society for Creative Anachronism, inc. document is the
official version. In case of conflict between the English language version and a translation into another
language, the English language version governs.
XVI. AUTHORITY TO RETAIN LEGAL COUNSEL
Only the President of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., has the ability to retain legal counsel
(attorney, barrister, solicitor, et. al.), whether paid or unpaid (pro bono) on behalf of the society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc. or any of its branches. No other officer, at any level of governance of the Society for
Creative Anachronism, Inc. has the authority to retain (even pro bono) legal counsel (attorney, barrister,
solicitor, et. al.) to advise or represent the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. or any branch, without
prior written authorization and confirmation of the retention of such counsel from the President.
XVII. AMENDMENT TO CORPORATE POLICIES
Under normal circumstances, the Board will publicize proposed changes to Corporate Policies in sufficient
time to allow comment from the membership before making a final determination.
The Board of Directors shall give a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days’ notice to Kingdom Administration
of the effective date of changes made to Corporate Policies. This notice shall be in written form and the
sixty days shall count from the date of mailing. In case of an emergency, less notice may be given, such
notice to be no less than thirty (30) days before the implementation date for such changes. In all cases
where less than sixty days’ notice was given, the notice shall be accompanied by a letter of explanation of
the emergency prompting the change.
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THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INCORPORATED
HILDA POWERS and CLIVEDEN CHEW HAAS certify that:
They are the president and the secretary, respectively, of the SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM,
INCORPORATED, a California Non-Profit Corporation.
The Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to read as herein set forth in full:
I.
The name of this corporation shall be Society for Creative Anachronism, Incorporated.
II.
This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of
any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable
purposes. The purposes for which this corporation is formed include:
a. Research and education in the field of pre-17th-Century Western Culture.
b. Generally, to engage in research; publish material of relevance and interest to the field of
pre-17th-Century Western Culture; to present activities and events which re-create the
environment of said era, such as, but not limited to, tournaments, jousts, fairs, dances,
classes, et cetera; to acquire authentic or reproduced replicas of chattels representative of
said era; and to collect a library.
c. This corporation shall have and exercise all rights and powers conferred upon nonprofit
corporations under the laws of the State of California, provided that all activities shall be
incidental to and in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in II.a. and b. above.
III.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 9913 of the California Corporations Code, this
corporation elects to be governed by all of the provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation Law not otherwise applicable to this corporation under Sections 9910-9927 of the
Corporations Code.
IV.
This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning
of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of these
articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by a
corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), or (2) by
a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda
or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this corporation participate in or intervene
in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in
opposition to) any candidate for public office.
V.
The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and no part of the
net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or
member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the
corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities
of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is
organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and which has established its tax
exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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